Margaretting Church

Margaretting church is dedicated to St Margaret of Antioch. It probably dates from around 1130, although it is mainly a 15th Century building. The exuberant plaster work (pargetting) around the altar is a distinguishing feature. Medieval carpentry is also in abundance. The three large colourful hatchments were impressive. Luckily we were able to get the key from one of the local residents.

Margaretting church basks peacefully in the shade.

As we enter, we admire the roof timbers.

As we approach the elegant rood screen,
the pargetting around the altar is revealed in its full exuberance.

Pargetting

The plaster work or pargetting is a distinguishing feature of this church. Considering this, it is surprising that I could not find its date recorded anywhere. Anyway, we found it impressive and well worth seeing!

Here is the pargetting.

The stone work just above the altar dates from 1678
and is supposed to represent "The Feeding of the Multitude".

Hatchments

Opposite the church entrance are three large wall-mounted hatchments. Hatchments are usually very colourful and are actually "Attachments" to the coffins when they make their last journeys. The crest on a hatchment is that of the person who has just died. The inscription is usually in Latin, and a typical word is "RESURGAM", or "I shall rise again".

This is a double crest, presumably from each half of the family.

A lot of work went into these hatchments ...

... making them an art form.

Monument

Monuments often make interesting reading. They tell us something about the world and life and customs in ages past. We can an insight into what was important then, and this can gives food for thought when we compare the past with our present and ask the question, "Is modern life really as good as we think or are there other ways of doing things and other values?"

Here we read about one Richard Benyon, who left his mark on the social fabric of his day.
The inscription reads, in the English of 1796, as follows.

Near this Place are deposited the Remains of
RICHARD BENYON Esquire
of Gidea Hall and North Ockendon in this County,
and of Englefield House in the County of Berks,
and Member of Parliament for the City of Peterborough.
He departed this Life
on the 22d of August in the Year 1796
in the 51st Year of his Age.
Esteemed and lamented by all who can Value
a sound and cultivated Understanding
joined with an amiable and honorable Mind,
His Virtues will ever be the Pride of his Numerous Family
and his Widow
caused this Monument to be erected
in gratitude for his affection
and to perpetuate his Memory.

Artefacts

Here I have grouped together the stained glass windows and the carved pulpit. Both are used to put across the Christian message - the stained glass light in pictures and the pulpit in the words of the priest or preacher.

These two windowws are probably Victorian and represent the themes of "The Shepherd" ...

... and "The Crucifixion". We missed the medieval "Jesse" window in the chancel.

This looks like a swan feeding its young.
It's a nice carving for a pulpit.

Goodbye

It's time to enter the world of the here and now, but not before we have appreciated the nice floral display in the entrance porch. We take a last look at the church basking in the peace of a warm August afternoon. Then we pass the rectory - or is it the vicarage - and resume our country walk.

The floral display looks nice.

We say goodbye Margaretting church in its tranquil setting ...

... as we wend our way past the rectory (or vicarage) and resume our county walk.

Postscript

These pictures were taken by me at various times since 2006 as well as on Paul's excellent IVC walk on 13th August 2017. Historical items for the text were gleaned from within the church as well as from on-line sources too numerous to itemize!