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The Six- Hundred Year History of Knowle Church
Lecture given by Reverend Anthony Upton at Knowle Village Hall 20 January 2003
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During the thirteenth century Knowle did not have a chapel. The de Arden family held the manor until they sold it to the king . He gave the estate of Knowle to Westminster Abbey in 1290. Thus the monks of Westminster Abbey became the corporate lords of Knowle for the next two centuries. They leased it out and took the profits from the manor.
In 1404 an inventory was made and a chapel was mentioned in Knowle Hall. It was built by William de Arden as a private chapel to serve the spiritual needs of his family and servants. Until 1403 the ordinary inhabitants of Knowle were obliged to attend services at the parish church at Hampton in Arden. This could be a hazardous journey as the people of Knowle had to cross the River Blythe by way of a ford to reach the church in Hampton. This was dangerous in times of heavy rain and snow.
Walter Cook is thought to have been born in Knowle in about 1365. In 1379 Cook was ordained as a clergyman. He gained a living at Ravenstone and Kimcote in Liecestershire. He came from a wealthy family who had sufficient funds to get Walter into a university. He also drew on his livings to support himself at university. He obtained the degree of Bachelor of Civil Law and went to Rome as one of the King's clerks. In Rome he also undertook private legal work on behalf of bishops etc, from which he gained revenues. Thus Walter Cook became affluent enough to found a church in his own native town.
In 1396 Cook asked the pope in Rome for a faculty to build a church in Knowle. There was some land outside the jurisdiction of Westminster Abbey, which was assarted - that is cleared of forest and taken into private ownership by Adam Cook. Walter built on land belonging to his father.
The church was completed and opened for worship. Nicholas Duffield, Bishop of Dunkeld, consecrated it on 24 February 1403. William Bulker became the first chaplain of the new church. It was not however the parish church until 1859. Cook founded a chantry in the new church with a priest and in 1404 paid Westminster Abbey £200 so that they could provide a stipend for at least one priest forever. In 1411 a chantry chapel was added. Westminster Abbey and Bulker agreed that for the next 40 years the chaplains would be allowed to dig locally for stone with which to build and repair the chapel.
In 1413 Walter Cook and other important people in Knowle founded the Guild in Knowle. Cook got a license from the king and asked Westminster Abbey to help. They agreed to build the Guild House. Cook obtained permission from Westminster Abbey to chop down 25 oak trees in Knowle Park to build the Guild House. From 1413 - 1430 the south aisle of the church was erected to accommodate the guild chapel.
Cook became richer and had great affection for Knowle. His guild attracted large numbers of members. Possibly its members or pilgrims gathered in the open space outside of the Guild House - the Great Square - before going into the church.
The guild grew, as did the number of chaplains. They needed an authority over them so Cook founded a college in 1416 .It was not for educational purposes, purely religious. A wealthy aristocratic lady, Elizabeth Clinton, helped Cook financially. Through the College it was established that the chaplains should follow a common rule.
The collegiate church flourished and made an enormous impact on Knowle. The activities of the Guild and college stimulated the local economy and the village expanded northwards along the high Street.
Reformation
During Henry VIII's reign England broke with Rome (1534), the monasteries were dissolved and services were changed. Knowle manor and the advowson of the church passed from Westminster Abbey into private hands. The colleges were allowed to continue until Edward VI `s reign. The commissioners of the King came to Knowle to check the revenues of the college and dissolved the college. The chaplains were pensioned off with handsome annual pensions. The rector of the college became the curate of Knowle and so services were maintained in the church. As it was a collegiate church the church was in danger of demolition. The commissioners pleaded with the king to save the church, as the crossing of the River Blythe made getting to the parish church at Hampton too difficult. Thus the church survived.
Later history.
In the 17th century the church fell into disrepair because in medieval times people would leave plenty of money in their wills to their church. By the 17th century they left the money to other causes.
From 1672 - 1832 the Chapel wardens' accounts show that routine maintenance of the church fabric was carried out. The porch was repaired; timbers replaced and drain pipes installed. In 1745 the buttress on the southeast corner of the church was built to stop the church falling down.
In 1859 Knowle separated from the parish of Hampton in Arden and became the parish church.
From 1860 restoration work was carried out to combat dilapidation. The rood screen was preserved even though other churches of the time were burning theirs. This may have been due to the high numbers of Catholics around Knowle. Even the fervent Protestant Lord of the Manor, Robert Lord Brook, did not order the screen's removal.
The original entrance of the church was through the south porch but in the 19th century the present day entrance was built.
In Medieval times the rood screen would have been covered in gold guilt, not varnished like today. On the walls and on panels there would have been paintings of the saints and martyrs of the church. Above the rood screen there would have been a rood loft with a gallery, choir and tiny organ. Above the loft would have been a rood beam bearing a cross, with the figures of Mary and John the disciple either side. Behind the cross there was a wooden screen painted with stars, angels and saints. This still existed until the end of the eighteenth century. Painted stars and flowers are still visible and under one support on the left (south side) remains of medieval red paint can be seen. With the church illuminated by candles it would have been a glorious sight!
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