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Its more than likely that the first Christian place of worship at Awre was of Saxon origin, although there may well have been a ‘Celtic’ Pagan offering place long before. The Saxon structures would have been of Wood and not until early 1200 was a sturdy stone structure built with a mixture of Cotswold, Forest and local Blakeney Red sand stones, also lined inside with grey Mud stone from the river, the tower being added about a hundred years later. Although time has not changed the Church in its structure the inside has most certainly now got a more homely and warm feeling about it. In 1200 you may well have entered the church and stood on a Dirt damp floor and probably from this derived the ‘Kneelers’, stone floors, some crude bench seats would have been a added luxury along the way, going to church in those days was to give Penance not to have Fun.
Evaluation is and always will be good for some bad for others St. Andrews is no exception. The Victorians had a big influence to change as regards the decor to the inside of the church, as we all know Victorians had some good ideas but in some cases executed them rather haphazardly through lack of funding especially if the lord of the manor was footing the bill. In 2003 dry rot was discovered in the old Victorian plinths supporting some of the pews. All the infected timber had to be removed, the main concern at this point was the “Organ.” The instrument in question is Victorian and rests on the plinth facing North of the Nave and East of the North aisle, this being the worst infected area. It was feared the the organ would have to be dismantled and if to be used again reassembled at a cost of many thousands of pounds in point of fact more that the object was worth even as an artefact. After jacking up and supporting the plinth under the organ on concrete blocks, an inspection suggested that the dry rot had just begun to infest the timber beneath and that the organ had got its just reprieve - a little more thought from the Victorians with ventilation would have preserved these plinths; but then we would not have ‘now’, something that our next generation of villagers can enjoy as they pray in comfort
After much toing and froing as to the type of flooring to be relayed a “Church Faculty” was finally approved to a Lime washed solid floor with a breathable membrane, then overlaid with carpet and those sections of Victorian pews replaced with some nice comfortable chairs. But before all this could take shape the area had to be cleared then prepared by in-filling firstly with 4 inch then 1 inch stone something in the region of 20 or so tons, and all wheelbarrowed in from of the roadside by some of our villagers, including Vicar John Seaman - the final touches of expertise was performed by one of our local builders Nigel Jenkins, Nigels work also included the new, for want of a better word “Preaching Plinth,” made of oak and carpeted and is just in front of the Rood Screen; and at this point is a good opportunity to thank everyone involved in this project from start to finish “THANKS” to you all.
For hundreds of years the church would not only have been a place of “Worship” but a Meeting place where all the village activities would have focused on, and in the Middle Ages even brewed its own “Ale” the sale of which would have gone to the upkeep of the church. The Victorians built many schools in remote places like Awre, but by the time the “Edwardian” age came along and mainstream schools became more accessible then these became redundant until taking on a new roll of, “The Village Hall” and of course to the cost of the church. Over the past few years certainly since the Rev’d John Seaman has been in charge St. Andrews has just about risen above closure of which it was destine at one time. Regaining its composure to once more taking on its roll of being the centre of the Village to hold functions from Classical to Modern concerts, Plays and the like the acoustics within are second to none with a warm and friendly atmosphere with toilet and kitchen areas, “Yes St. Andrews is now a community centre,” and what of “The Village Hall ?” The fight for survival goes on.
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