Colours of Seaford seen in ancient buildings
I have recently conducted some guided tours around Seaford.
I enjoy this but I am always worried that some of my guests will know more about the town than me.
However, it always surprises me about the number of Seafordians who have never been in the Church, Crouch Gardens or the Crypt.
If you have never been into St Leonard's Church, this weekend is a good time to visit. There will be a Flower Festival there from today (Friday) until Monday. (10am to 5pm – Sunday 12.30 to 5pm) with tea and coffee served in the Church Hall in nearby Church Lane. There is much to see in the church including ancient art. The 'historied' column, close to the door, has beautiful carved biblical scenes which date from the 13th century. The depiction of the crucifixion is as clear today as it was 700 years ago.
To the east (left) of the door is a fine stained glass window of three saints by Charles Eamer Kempe (1837-1907).
Kempe was born in Brighton and had initially trained as a preacher but his bad stammer forced him to seek other work. He went to an architectural college where he began a lifelong love of stained glass.
He set up a company in London which had over 50 employees and provided stained glass for churches all over the country including York Minster.
His stained glass at Seaford depicts: St Leonard on the left – the patron saint of prisoners (can you see his ball and chain?), St Wilfrid who is holding a model of Chichester Cathedral which he founded, and St Pancras, the patron saint of Lewes.
All Kempe windows are identified by a wheat-sheaf – can you see the wheat-sheaf in our window?
W. Tanner visited the church in 1752 and left his mark – literally by carving his name into the plasterwork under the tower. Several other people seem to have done the same thing.
Opposite a huge stone coffin has been placed in the wall. When this was found at the east end of the church in 1778 it contained sixteen skulls.
Close by is the monument to James Walker who served with Nelson and on the east side of the tower, a monument to Nathaniel Harison who died in Scutari Hospital in the Crimea while being nursed by Florence Nightingale.
In the nave are some ancient carvings which were once placed outside on the north aisle, St Michael can be seen spearing a dragon, while on the south aisle two gargoyles stare at you.
One has his head upside down and the other rather cheekily sticks his tongue out at the congregation.
The brass memorials around the walls commemorate Seaford's two Victorian doctors, Charles Gervis and William Pringle Morgan, the Seaford GP who identified dyslexia in 1896.
There is also a memorial to Cuthbert Bromley who was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry at Gallipoli in 1915.
Further military memorials can be seen in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in the north east corner of the church.
Here are two beautiful stained glass windows 'Charity' and 'Sacrifice' by the stained-glass artists Heaton, Butler and Bayne.
The left hand window shows a sleeping soldier with a burning town in the background. It is a memorial to Maurice Galloway who was killed as Givenchy in France in 1915 aged just 18 years.
The theme of the flower festival will be 'Praise ye the Lord' and I am sure the church will be a riot of colour.
If you want to see more colour in an ancient setting please visit Jo Allen's spectacular installation at the Crypt Gallery. The installation called 'Seeing' is a beautiful and fascinating fusion of music, poetry, sculpture and light. All the people on my guided walks really enjoyed this show which is on until 12th September and really should not be missed.
If you would like to join me on a guided tour around Seaford, I will be conducting another one on Sunday, October 4, to raise funds for the Mayor's charities.
Tickets will be available soon from the Town Council and hopefully the tour will include the church and the crypt.
But don't wait until October – visit both exhibitions this weekend.
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Weather for Lewes
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 13 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
