Description:Buglers from RAF Stafford are pictured sounding a fanfare as the Bishop of Lichfield, Dr E S Woods arrives to rededicate the restored Collegiate Church of St. Mary, Stafford.
Historic services were held at St. Mary’s Church in Stafford on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 May 1952 to mark the completion of a great scheme of restoration, which extended over four years and cost around £22,000. During the previous five years the fine Tudor roof of the nave has been suspended under a system of steel trusses. The whole of the south aisle roof was renewed and the dry rot and beetle have been eradicated from the rest of the timbers. The mullions of the north transept windows have been renewed and the glass there, and in the north aisle they have been repaired. Stone erosion was checked and repaired and many of the gutters and downspouts were renewed. Dry rot was found in the floor of the south transept and a new floor was provided. A new heating installation replaced one that was on the point of collapse and all of the old electric lighting system was removed and replaced with a new one, and the organ was overhauled.
On Saturday, the Bishop of Lichfield, Dr E S Woods re-dedicated the restored church and dedicated new reredos and furnishings at the High Altar and in the Lady Chapel, and a new memorial window. Ten minutes before 3.00pm the Mayor of Stafford, Alderman C E Fowke, accompanied by the High Sheriff, Colonel G F Haszard and the Town Clerk, Mr T N Nowell, entered the church and took their places. As voluntaries the organist Mr G P Matthews, FRCO played a suite in C by William Russell, Elgar’s “Nimrod” variation from the Enigma, and A Solemn Melody (Walford Davis).
A fanfare of buglers from RAF Stafford heralded the approach of the Bishop. Three sharp knocks were heard on the west door and the Bishop entered accompanied by the Archdeacon of Stafford and Rector of St. Mary’s (the Ven. W A Parker). During his address the Bishop spoke on the text “worship the Lord in beauty and holiness”. He said that where St. Mary’s stands worship had been carried on for 1,400 years. He said that it was an outstanding example of the loyalty and co-operation of all the citizens of this place, where everybody here has taken the greatest possible pride in their own church and raised some £26,000, which takes some doing these days. The Bishop spoke of the great heritage of the church, which was once a Saxon church at the west end of the present building. The Saxon church was pulled down near 1800. He believed that the restored and beautiful nave of St. Mary’s dated from 1190. He added that Queen Elizabeth I, who made the church a collegiate one drew the church’s ties closer with the town and the church was still administered by trustees, one of whom had to be the Mayor of Stafford. This was the beginning of a very close relationship with the town and the church which has never been closer than today.
Clergy attending the service included: the Archdeacon of Stafford, the Sub-Rector of St. Mary’s (the Rev. L E H Caller), Prebendary E E F Walters; Prebendary J C Cox, of Colwich; the Rev. H H Fox, Rural Dean and Vicar of Bradley; the Rev. G Woodward-Saunders, Vicar of Christ Church, Stafford; the Rev. N Gledhill, Vicar of St. Thomas’ Church; the Rev. R Schottelvig, of Castle Church; the Rev. E N Thomas of St. John’s; the Rev. L H Morgan, of St. Paul’s; the Rev. W Merlin Davies, Vicar and the Rev. G W Street, Curate, of Berkswich; the Rev. C G Wright of Seighford; the Rev. W H Dodd of Weston; the Rev. W F O’Neil Fisher of Tixall; the Rev. H C J Webb and the Rev. L F Foot of RAF 16 M.U. Stafford.
Thanksgiving services for the restoration of the church continued on Sunday when sermons were delivered by the Bishop of Stafford (Dr L D Hammond) and the Bishop of Shrewsbury (the Right Rev. R L Hodson). The service was sung to the setting of Stanford in B flat. In the afternoon there was a thanksgiving service for children, while at evensong the preacher was the Bishop of Stafford (the right Rev. L D Hammond). The service was conducted by the Archdeacon (the Ven. W A Parker) and a Lesson was read by Mr G C Saunders (Diocesan Lay Reader). The anthem, “How Lovely are Thy Dwellings” (Brahms Requiem) was sung by the choir, with Mr G P Matthews at the organ.
This photograph was published in the Staffordshire Newsletter on Saturday 24 May 1952. Reproduced by kind permission of the Staffordshire Newsletter who retain copyright.