The Rede Brass

Against the North wall of the chancel is a brass plate, with the figure of the Virgin kneeling at a desk, with a book open before her. On one side is an angel holding a scroll, “Ave gracia plena D’n’s tecu’;” on the other side a person in a priest’s habit (possibly Rede himself) , kneeling, from whose mouth issues a scroll with these words: “O blessed Moder of Pete, pray to thi sone for me.” Beneath the figure is this inscription:

“Orate, pro a’i’a GEORGII REDE, quond’m Rector’ Ecclesiæ de Ffovent, tempore edificacio’is nove turr’ ib’m, anno Domini mill’mo ccccºlxxxxvº, cujus animæ p’piciet’r De Ame.”.

‘Pray for the soul of the late George Rede sometime Rector of the Church of Fovant at that very year of the building of the new tower In the year of Our Lord 1495. On whose soul may God have mercy. Amen.’

rede2
As photographed
A brass rubbing

The plate is believed to be commissioned by George Rede himself at the time of the building of a new church tower. It is unusual in that it was not designed to be inset in a floor stone but was always meant as a mural. (Click on the pictures to see more detail.)

Other treasures

There are a number of other treasures in the church, some of which are shown below. Click on the picures to enlage them:

lectern
A memorial lectern
window
A stained-glass window
chair
A Victorian chair
bier
A coffin bier

A Memorial Lectern

A beautifully carved wooden lectern in the shape of an eagle with wings spanned and inscribed:

“In grateful memory of the Great British and Australian soldiers buried in this Churchyard who gave their lives for King and Country in the Great War 1914-1918”.

A Stained-glass Window

The small stained glass window was for years hidden behind the organ. It was rediscovered in 1996 and placed in a more prominent place beside the choir and organ. Back-lighting was installed so that the colours could be more clearly appreciated.

It was commissioned by a Mrs Sanderson and presented to St George’s in 1934 in memory of Mary Elizabeth Edwards, with the inscription “O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness”. Unfortunately we know little about either woman.

For some years it was believed to be the work of Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones (1833-1898), but after correspondence with several experts it was declared to be by Edward Frampton (1846-1929). The figure is probably that of Miriam, the Old Testament sister of Moses.

A Victorian Chair

The Victorian chair was presented by the Rev and Mrs Usher in memory of Teddy Coventry. Rev Usher was Rector in Fovant from 1919 to 1942, but it is not known who Teddy Coventry was.

A Coffin Bier

The bier was given in memory of the Rev George Baker who was a Curate in Fovant for 22 years in the early 19th century. It was given to the Salisbury Museum in 1977 by Mr R.M. Wylie, on behalf of the Parochial Council, but was returned to St George’s when the Museum moved to The Close and it was decided that there was no room for it in the new premises.

Click on the link below to find information on the Millennium Flower Festival:

Millennium Flower Festival

M.A.M.
2008