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A Short History of St. John the Baptist Church Hammerwich

This short history was compiled as part of a Bishop's Certificate project, 1999. Revised 2002. It was submitted to the website by Dr.Robert Sharp.

Hammerwich - Early History

The close proximity to the Roman settlements at Wall and to Watling Street suggests people passed by the low hills of Hammerwich 2000 years ago.

The area of two Hamewiches is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) as 600 acres (240 hectares) of wetland without any listed dwellings. If the name derives from the old French word of hamelet, meaning a cluster of houses, or the Scottish word hame, meaning home, then there could have been some settlement nearby.

The earliest mention of any use of the area is in 1140 when about 60 acres (24 hectares), called Haminch, was given to Farewell Priory.

A little later Hamerwich is mentioned as consisting of three hamlets of Overton (north side), Middleton in 1382 where the Community Centre is now located, and Netherton in 1319 where the railway line occurs.

References

"The changing form of Staffordshire Churches". A booklet prepared by the Lichfield Cathedral Visitors Study Centre.
"The history of St John the Baptist church of Hammerwich". R.Clayton 1977.
Faculty proposal for the new church held in Staffordshire Record Office. Ref:D3802/4/1
"Victoria History of the County of Stafford". Volume XIV held in Lichfield Public Library.
Register of Baptisms, marriages and burials 1724-1812. Held in Staffordshire Record Office, Ref:d3802/1/1
"The Rev. Thomas Harwood D.D.,F.S.A." by Revd. G.H.Cope. Country Life, 1962, 26-28

Roll of Priests

Geoffrey de Homerwych 1238 -
Fowler 1553 -
William Joans 1609 -1649
James Norris 1652 -
Long 1740 -
Benjamin Bond 1760 -1783
John Harrison 1783 -1792
John George Norbury 1792 -
Samuel Pearson - 1800
Thomas Harwood 1800 - 1842

Ralph Errington 1843 - 1852
George Poole 1852 - 1858
Robert Gordon 1858 -1890
Charles Frossard 1890 - 1924
Arthur Clayton 1924 - 1954
F.Cecil Fletcher 1954 -1966
John Fielding-Fox 1966 - 1991
Vilda Steady 1991 - 1995
Eileen Turner 1996 - 2002

The first chapel

The earliest mention of worship in Hammerwich is suggested in documents of the "Church-lands Trust", 1295, in which land called Chapeleynesmor is listed.

In the 14th Century the family of Robert Sterre, a name that gives Sterre lane that later becomes Star Lane, donated two pence for the upkeep of a chapel.

By the 15th Century George Stanley, Lord of Hammerwich, who lived in Longdon Hall, owned the village. The population was only 30, so any chapel would have been very small.

In 1536 the Prebendary of Freeford, who was attached to Lichfield Cathedral, appropriated the chapel. In 1549 it was certified as a Chantry Chapel and so was being used to chant the Masses. Records show it was maintained by two chapel wardens and owned a silver chalice and two bells. A house in the village was known as the priest's house.

In 1564 the Crown sold the chapel, chapelyard and land to two speculators, but by 1571 this endowment had come into the possession of the Paget family, who now owned Longdon Manor.

In 1694 the chapel passed into the possession of the Vicar of St. Michael's in Lichfield and all monies were given to him. This caused a long disagreement and by 1842 the parishioners refused to pay any more levies to St. Michaels. Eventually the chapel became financially independent.

A font was added in 1715, but for some unknown reason it was exchanged much later for the font of Christ Church, Burntwood.

The earliest record of a service is the baptism of Henry Webb in 1720 in the "Chapple of Hammerwich". In 1727 a new chapelyard was consecrated and the earliest recorded burial is that of Sarah, the wife of John Jobber. In 1864 the chapelyard was increased by another quarter of an acre completing the "top part" of the yard.

Dr Thomas Harwood was appointed the Perpetual Curate of Hammerwich in 1800, which he held for 40 years. Dr Harwood is known for being a historian of Lichfield, an editor of early surveys of Staffordshire and a writer of several plays.

The new Church

The church was built with sandstone quarried from an area close to the front of the church. It was paid for by public subscription and worship started sometime at the end of 1873.

A Vestry was added in 1883, choir stalls in 1936 and an altar rail in 1960. An oil-fired boiler connected to water filled radiators heated it. In 1992 it was converted to gas.

The churchyard was extended by a quarter of an acre in 1927 and a further acre in 1986. In 2001 it was proposed to close the churchyard to further burial once all space has been used.

Between 1888 and 1894 a Mission Church was used at the Triangle, and from 1900 to 1949 there was a Mission Centre at Hammerwich hospital.

The Parish magazine began in 1890.

In 1996 a link was made with the Parishes of Gentleshaw and Farewell and in 2002 this was confirmed as a three Parish administration.

In 1801 Charles Bird, the manservant to Dr Samuel Johnson, was buried in the churchyard. Did Dr Johnson attend the funeral?

The chapel bell was suspended in a Yew tree in the chapelyard and in 1810 it fell from the tree. The current bell was presented in 1829 and probably replaced two smaller bells in the timber framed bell tower. The bell had a wheel suspension and was probably swung full circle with a rope extending downwards to the west gallery. The clapper for this bell is on display in a box at the back of the nave.

Between 1828 and 1858 the curacy of Hammerwich was linked with Christ Church, Burntwood. Services alternated between the churches each Sunday morning and evening.

In 1830 the curate's income was £45 and made up from rents from the Church lands trust, tithes, several grants from Queen Anne's Bounty, legacies (including Elizabeth Ball from Castle Bromwich) and money given for particular sermons. By 1844 it had increased to £300. In 1850 pew rentals were charged with 150 being paid for and 50 being kept free.

A flute supplied music, but the priest started the singing. Later a concertina and harmonium were used. A bassoon was used for special occasions, such as weddings, and part of one can be seen in a display box at the back of the nave.

Robert Gordon, the brother of Gordon of Khartoum, became the Rector in 1860 and changed the chapel into a church. He built the Rectory next door to the church, as well as organising the building of a boarding school (now the Youth and Community Centre) and Hammerwich hospital.

In 1871 Hammerwich was recognised as a civil parish. Its area was now 1700 acres and had a population of 1325.

In 1872 the old chapel or church was demolished. It is said a fire destroyed part of the church, but the Faculty of 1872 states the rebuilding was becaus

1. The pews were in a poor state, not of uniform size and shape and were boxed in.
2. The Gallery was in a dilapidated state. Indeed, the gallery and its outside access are not drawn on the architect's record.
3. The chancel was too small for "the decent and orderly celebration of Holy Communion". It was nine feet square and had room for only 5 or 6 parishioners at the altar rail.
4. The chapel held 140 people and 60 more seats were wanted. This, however, was not achieved.

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