The History of the Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Nottingham

The Twentieth Century to 1940

1900 saw the installation of Bishop Arthur Hamilton Baynes, DD, as Vicar (left). Patron the Bishop of Southwell.

Soon after (1900-2) a New Vicarage was chosen and fully renovated, with electric light and hot water fitted. The old Vicarage, across from south-east corner of church had become dwarfed by a new warehouse. It now is the offices of Messrs. Prior & Palmer, at 56 High Pavement. The original site had been used for the vicarage from very early on. Wylie (1853) wrote how the original structure had been removed in 1653 and a new one built, that in turn gave place in 1844 "to the present mansion".

In the church, in 1901 the Monumental plaque to South African Campaign was put on the south wall of the nave. 1903-4 saw Electric lighting introduced. The church also was trying to replace old chairs at 50 per year.

In 1905, the Bronze faced doors from the south porch into the church, were installed as a memorial to Canon Morse, by his son Sydney Morse. The doors (left) were designed by Harry Wilson of the Arts and Crafts School. Sydney Morse also spent much effort on the interior restoration of the porch.

The church now has in its possession a Brass Verge "to commemorate St. Matthew's Church Jubilee, January 15th 1906".

Plans had been underway for many years to find a better means of housing the Organ. Even in 1876, only four years after the new Scott Organ had been installed, T.C. Hine had prepared a drawing for a possible side chapel (left).

The South Chapel - the greatest new building work since 1500

1912 saw completion of the building of the Lady Chapel, also known as the "Chapel of the Holy Spirit", built with a boiler house and organ blower room under (left, exterior view in 1942; below, view of entrance into new chapel from the South Transept). It was first mooted by Hamilton Baynes in 1905-06; to house a new Organ. The design was by Temple Moore, following 1907 designs by the late C. Hodgson Fowler (newspaper cutting, in scrapbook, UN).

1912 also saw the erection of the Screen between the Chancel and new Chapel given by Mrs. Coke in memory of her husband, George Elmsley Coke.

These works can be located on the Plan

In 1913, Canon Thomas Field, DD, was installed as Vicar, Patron the Bishop of Southwell. Previously an Oxford Classics scholar, he had taught at Repton and Harrow, then became Headmaster of King's School, Canterbury, before becoming Warden of Radley College in 1897. A man who was "tall, ponderous and swarthy, with mighty chest and close cut black beard, a man of invincible energy".

The new Vicar wrote in 1914 how the church was looking to install "a proper heating apparatus in the chamber which we have prepared for it and then as I hope, a new choir vestry".

On 25 May, 1916 was the dedication of the new Walker organ, total cost around £3,000. Some of the pipes and casework for the 1871 organ was reused. The console was on the platform still present above the south choir stall.

Also that year, the Large free-standing silver-plate candlesticks in Chancel, were given in memory of Arthur & Rebecca Liberty , by their daughters.

Views taken around 1916

After the First World War

In 1921, the Chapel was enhanced by a Reredos and Altar in memory of Gustav Albert Flersheim, and the East Window to commemorate Katherine Wade Dalton, who had died in the influenza epidemic of 1918.

The Main gates (left) to commemorate the County dead from the Great War, were completed in 1922, being dedicated on April 20th. Lighting of church yard by electricity also took place; being encouraged by installation of lamps on the new war memorial, as the old gas lighting had become "exceedingly defective".

In 1922 it was reported that the north turret was seriously decayed due to the flue of the old stove. A memorial tablet to the Organist Dr. Radcliffe, in the chancel beneath the organ, dedicated August 6th.

Then in 1925 the Sanctuary floor & communion rails were replaced as a memorial to Archdeacon John Gray Richardson. The next year, 1926 saw the Institution of James Geoffrey Gordon, MA, as Vicar. Patron the Bishop of Southwell.

To match the Sanctuary floor, in 1927-8 a new Marble Pavement was laid in Chancel, presented by Miss Hannah Meade Taylor Thorpe.

In an ambitious move, in 1930, a Faculty was sought for an additional side chapel (? the Guild altar). Not long after, in 1931, the new Panelling at east end of Chancel, was presented by Canon & Mrs. Gordon, to commemorate Alice, Lady Danesfort. Then in 1932, a new bookcase was made by the handicraft room at the School, and placed by south door to hold hymn books.

1933 saw a new Vicar, with the Institution of Bishop Neville Stuart Talbot, MC, DD, as Vicar. Patron the Bishop of Southwell. Talbot was also Assistant Bishop of Southwell. Born 21.8.1879, previously a military Chaplain in France, 1914-18, and Bishop of Pretoria from 1920-33, he died in office on 3.4.1943. His memorial is in the south Chapel.

Major work was undertaken in 1935-6, when the Tower, roofs restored, bells recast, cleaned interior stonework (wall plaque, 1937, in Chancel), A Restoration Service was held on January 31st 1937; £12,000 had been raised. Also in 1936? the sculptured panel "The Prodigal Son" by George Tinworth (1843-1913), sculpted in 1875 and exhibited at the Royal Academy, was placed in the Chapel. It was presented in memory of Arthur Stephen Roger (1850-1935), a Burgess of the City, and Anne, his wife (1850-1921).

Grand ambitions of Bishop Talbot led in 1937-8 to alterations to the High Altar and Reredos. The latter was cleaned and wings added by Mr. William Wheeler, ARCA, of the Faith Craft works. There were two very beautiful sets of hangings; a "lengthened Holy table, with its riddle post and angels and exquisite hangings", brass altar cross silvered as a "processional cross". The Vicar, Bishop Talbot (a very tall man) wrote in 1936 of wishing to have a "broad English Altar, with curtains of the most beautiful material possible", this was dedicated on Easter eve, 1938. Hangings were of "very gorgeous gold and scarlet, and the other set in plain gold" (Southwell Diocesan Magazine). Presumably to accompany the new works, a Silver Altar Cross and Candlesticks, Easter 1938, were presented in memory of Bertha Emily Shepherd, by her husband George Leonard Shepherd and their children, Marjorie, Ursula, Anthony and Joan. Other works included releading the Chancel roof and installing an automatic stoker.