1864 Church Chancel Restoration

Background

This restoration, undertaken by the vicar the Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn, was probably the most straightforward of the projects he was involved with; there is a full list of his restorations here. This one involved the restoration of the chancel, in particular restoring the east window and replacing the thatched roof with a tiled roof.
The following projects (for the nave roofs and then for the tower repairs) were beset with many difficulties including fund-raising and objections to the changes proposed.

On June 9^th 1863 Charles William Millard, Lessee of the Deopham Rectory, wrote to the Secretary of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners to say that the east window of the chancel was in great need of repair. He explained that an unsightly wooden frame about ¾ of the size of the original, had been substituted for the previous stone frame. This wooden frame was by then in need of restoration so he suggests that instead of repairing the wooden frame stone mullions should be built. He accepts that as lessees it is the Millard family’s responsibility to fund repairs, but suggests that reinstating the stonework is more than just a repair and that therefore the Ecclesiastical Commissioners should make a contribution to the cost. He does say though that due to the desirability of this work, the Millards would make a contribution towards the improvements as well as the repairs.

It can be seen in the following etching that the roof of the chancel is thatched:

The Ecclesiastical Commissioners’ architect, Ewan Christian, made a visit to the church and reported on July 29^th 1863 as to his findings which can be summarised as:-

Chancel work required

Exterior works

The walls at the east end require considerable repair and pointing;
The buttress slopes are in bad condition owing in part to the constant dripping upon them of water from the roof;
The east wall round the window is much fractured and the window arch is crippled and sunk;
The mullions and tracery have been removed from this window and the opening filled with a wooden frame;
The lower part of the flank windows is blocked up and the tracery and glazing of those on the north side are in bad condition and need much repair;
The doorway and door are modern and of poor design;
The roof, framed of oak covered with thatch, is partly constructed of old timbers, and is of very inferior character; some of the timbers require renewal;
The thatch is in moderately good condition;
The chancel cannot be made equal in character to the church without an entirely new roof;
Eaves gutters and pipes are much wanted to carry off the water.

Interior works

Some repairs have already been executed to the interior:
- The lower part of the wall has been re-plastered;
- The space within the communion railing paved with Mintons’ tiles.
Much of the old plaster is unsound and the masonry of windows requires repair and cleansing;
The seating is new, framed of oak and of tolerably good character, but the bench ends remain unfinished.
The communion railing is very poorly placed in a temporary position below the steps.

Estimates

	Item	Estimated Cost
Lessees’ Liability
	The necessary repairs to roof, walls, windows etc	£62
Improvements
	A new roof of fir covered with tiles with new cross etc on east gable opening and reglazing the lower part of side windows & substituting flint for brick in the East gable; also cleansing and repairing the internal masonry and stucco renewing the defective paving and finisthing the seating.	£281
	A new east window complete	£70
	A new door & ironwork	£8
	Eaves, gutters, pipes and drainage	£13
	A new Communion railing	£20
	Total	£454

Note: because of the difference in the method of funding for the chancel, this estimate was kept separate. The estimate for work to the rest of the church can be found here:

Funding of the works

The Commissioners wrote back to Mr. Millard on August 4^th and proposed that the Millards (as lessees) pick up one third of the architect’s estimated costs – i.e. £150. Mr. Millard responded on August 14^th saying that he could not give a definite answer since two of his brothers “are gone abroad for a few weeks”. He also links this chancel work with enhancements that they are wanting to make to the outbuildings at Church Farm for which they are awaiting costs and funding.

Charles William Millard wrote again on December 2nd 1863 to say that “with respect to the repairs and improvements of the Chancel, it is the unanimous wish of my family that they should be carried out as recommended by Mr Christian’s report, and they will be happy to contribute the sum named by the Commissioners, viz £150, as their share of the works.”

On April 24^th 1864 (i.e. the next year) the Ecclesiastical Commissioners gave Ewan Christian the authorisation to proceed “at once with the execution of the works”, accepting a quotation from Mr. Woodbine of £412 :18s :0d.

The following image shows the interior of the new roof installed during these restorations:

Photo: G. Sankey, 1/24

Chancel Floor

On November 2^nd 1864 the vicar, the Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn, broke his silence to ask in relation to these chancel works:

… A new floor is to be laid down – in the chancel there are three plain stones & one with two or three inscriptions relating to persons totally unconnected with the parish. I applied to Mr Christian to allow the stones to be removed. He stated that he had no objection as far as regarded the plain stones, but did not like interfering with the other. I feel sure that I could obtain the consent of (as far as I can learn) the only remaining relative & also that of the Archdeacon.
Would the Commissioners kindly allow the expense of the additional tiles required for the flooring so as to make the new floor of the Chancel uniform – the plain stones might merely be sunk & a mark made to indicate their position – the same might be done with the other, or it may be placed at the entrance of the chancel under the Lectern.
Trusting that their Lordships will sanction this ….

Image courtesy of Lambeth Palace Library, their ref file 27377

The Rev. Hibbert Wanklyn wrote again to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners on November 5^th to explain that one of the plain floor stones had already been removed and one has “cracked completely across & is unsightly under any circumstances” (the third plain stone is not mentioned). He indicates the number of “quarries” required to cover the two stones to be removed.

The moving of the plain stones was presumably agreed since when the architect Ewan Christian presented the final bill from the builder John Woodbine in March 1865 there is an extra charge of £2 for “additional cost of tile floor”. There remains to this day a stone memorial in the chancel floor to Susanna and John Garnham, who died in 1788 and 1806 respectively – both of them before the above works. The removal of this stone was clearly not sanctioned.

Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings

SPAB (whose most famous founder member was William Morris the designer) gave a negative assessment of the chancel repairs in its Annual Report of 1882. Two of their members visited the church in 1882: their assessment of the completed chancel repairs was: “The Chancel of this very Stately Church has been completely destroyed within the last few years, under the name of Restoration.” The full report and further information on the SPAB’s involvement in Deopham is contained in the nave roof restoration page here.

Postscript

White’s 1890 Directory contains the following remark which the above account shows to be incorrect:

“The chancel was re-roofed, new windows opened, its floor paved with Minton’s tiles, and new communion rails erected, by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, in 1864 at a cost of £600.”

According to the architect’s report of July 29^th 1863, the Minton tiles had already been installed by that date. The 1864 work included the laying of quarry tiles in the chancel. Also the cost of £600 is incorrect – see the final bill of March 1865.

Navigation

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Schedule of Rev. Wanklyn’s Projects

Date	Change
22/2/24	More on the SPAB + link
14/2/24	Navigation
31/1/24	SPAB + photo
23/1/24	Link to estimate for non-chancel repairs
21/1/24	Typos corrected
19/12/23	Published