|
Inside St Matthew's |
The Bells Two tons of bells cast in 1887 to mark Victoria's Jubilee and so heavy that they weakened the tower.We also had handbell ringers in the first half of the 20th Century.
The Principal Contents Including a copy of Æthelred's Charter of 1007, which mentions Oxhey for the first time.
The Stained Glass The Lady Chapel has a fine window by Karl Parsons depicting the Nativity.
The Memorials Including one to the man who shot down the first Zeppelin.
Warner and Sons of London cast the peal of eight bells, from treble to tenor, which was dedicated on the 18th June 1887 to mark Queen Victoria's Jubilee. The total weight of bells is roughly two tons. They are inscribed with the opening words of the Gloria. There is another much smaller bell, rung during communion, that came from Oxhey Chapel.
Over the years, the movements of the bells, in a tower not properly designed for them, has bowed and weakened the structure and they cannot now be swung safely. Instead, the bells have been fitted with external hammers that are connected to a simple carillion. So the bells still sound, but now only the hammers move, not the bells, or the bell tower. And yes, we do have bats in our belfry!
|
Weight |
Inscription |
Given by |
|
3 cwts 3 qrts 12 lb |
Glory to God in the highest |
Robert Carew |
|
3 cwts 3 qrts 24 lb |
On earth peace |
Mrs Carew |
|
more than 4 cwts |
Goodwill towards men |
Thomas Blackwell |
|
more than 4 cwts |
We praise Thee |
s J Blackwell |
|
more than 4 cwts |
We bless Thee |
Mrs Eley |
|
more than 5 cwts |
We worship Thee |
Mrs Tooke, in memory of her son W A Tooke d. 1884 |
|
6 cwt 2 qrts 25 lb |
We glorify Thee |
public subscription |
|
8 cwts 1 qrts 15 lb |
We give thanks to Thee for thy great glory |
David Carnegie |
St Matthew's also had a tradition of handbell ringing, and there is still a set of handbells in the vestry. A recording from the 1930s came to light recently featuring one or more of St. Matthew's handbell ringers. An mp3 version of it can be downloaded if you have broadband.
|
Item |
Donor |
Notes |
|
Mr Vale |
A facsimile of the Charter that first mentions Oxhey (as Oxengehaege) together with a translation, hangs in the north aisle. It contains comments in the hand of the Rev'd Newton Price, who gave it to Mr Vale, a devoted church worker. The original charter is in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. |
|
|
Reredos (a decorated panel that stands behind an altar) |
Mrs Tooke |
1891 Oak, painted in Italianate style, designed by J E K Catts 'a thanks offering of Mary Agnes Tooke'. Originally behind the main altar, it was moved to the north aisle in 1939. |
|
Unknown |
Little is known about the first organ at St Matthews, except that in 1892, the water motor for the organ was worn out and repairs costing £69 15s were put in hand at the turn of the century. That organ was replaced in 1913. The present organ is a two manual instrument by Norman and Beard. It was restored for the church's centenary in 1980. More information about the organ is available, including its specification. |
|
|
The Clock |
Unknown |
Supplied by Clerke, 1 Royal Exchange, London. The mechanism is in the bell tower and must be wound by hand once a week. |
|
The Blackwells |
May 1914, in memory of Walter Reginald Blackwell d. 1912. Carved wooden eagle design. |
|
|
Mrs Eley |
Erected December 17th 1885. Made by Mayer of Munich, Bavaria. |
|
|
Eley family |
In memory of Mary Agnes Tooke. Carved oak cancel screen, now moved to the west end of the church. |
|
|
Sanctuary Chairs |
Mr Healy & Mr Tooke |
Oak. |
|
Clergy stalls |
Carew family |
November 1910, carved oak. In memory of Robert and Jessie Carew |
|
Altar table |
From Oxhey Chapel |
Located in the Lady Chapel, only the legs and stretcher are original. |
With a few exceptions, the windows in the north and south aisles relate to the miracles and parables in St Matthew's Gospel. Concealed in The Lady Chapel is a most beautiful window of The Nativity by Karl Parsons. Otherwise the windows are not of great quality, their narrowness giving little artistic scope. Clockwise from the north west door they are:
|
Location |
Subject and description |
|
North aisle 1 |
Jesus walking on the water. In memory of Ralph Reginald Smyth Jones (1885-1912) who died in Bombay. |
|
North aisle 2 |
Depicts St Cecilia. A memorial of the 1914-18 War from the Girl's Guild of St Cecilia |
|
North aisle 3 |
The risen Christ. In memory of Noel Montague Charles Dudley (1897-1916), killed on the Somme. |
|
North aisle 4 |
Plain |
|
North aisle 5 |
The parable of the lost sheep. In memory of Florence Mabel Tripp, who died aged 4 years. |
|
North aisle 6 |
The Sunday School window of Jesus calming the sea. Dedicated 1898. |
|
Apse (N S) |
St Mark (north apse) St Luke (south apse). In memory of Robert Savill, first churchwarden. |
|
Apse |
St Matthew and St John. September 1887, in memory of William Arthur Tooke |
|
Centre apse |
Christ the Good Shepherd. |
|
Lady Chapel |
The Crucifixion. Tribute to Rev'd Newton Price |
|
South aisle 1 |
The Nativity by Karl Parsons (1884-1934).In the May 1916 Parish magazine , the artist interprets the symbolism and explains his intentions. |
|
South aisle 2 and 3 |
The parables of the Sower and of the Hidden Treasure. These two are in memory of Canon Townshend and his sister, who helped the church in its early days. |
|
South aisle 4 |
The parable of the Dragnet. In memory of Elizabeth Harrison and son George. |
|
South aisle 5 |
The parable of the Talents. In memory of W Hounsfield of Oxhey Hall. |
|
South aisle 6 and 7 |
The baptism of Jesus and Jesus blessing the children. In memory of David Carnegie of Eastbury House. |
|
West Wall |
Moses before the burning bush. In memory of Catherine Savill. |
The most unusual memorial is to the man who shot down the first Zeppelin in the Great War.
|
Location |
Description |
|
North aisle |
Brass in memory of Alice Slocombe of Oxhey Warren d. 1910. |
|
Lady Chapel |
Stone plaque commemorates Rev'd Newton Price, first vicar of St Matthews. |
|
Lady Chapel |
Stone plaque commemorates Karl Parsons |
|
South Aisle |
Copper plate on wood commemorates R A J Warneford VC, Chevalier Legion d'Honneur, killed ten days after bringing down the first Zeppelin. |
|
South Aisle |
Brass placed there by the Watford Belgian Refugees Committee, in memory of Vera Smith (d. aged 28) |
|
South Aisle |
Marble and mosaic tribute to Walter Stephen Quilter, sidesman and Sunday School teacher. |
|
Under West Window |
two plaques commemorating young soldiers killed in 1916: John Richard Gutteridge Smith of Wiggenhall and Eric Lillywhite Lailey. |
|
Outside porch |
Marble tablet to John MacDonald and Frank Martin, bellringers, killed in WW1. |