Bulwell St Mary

Features and Fittings

Chancel

Reredos

Reredos and panelling	Detail of reredos
Altar	Sedilia

The reredos is made of alabaster. The Nottingham Evening Post, reporting on the dedication ceremony led by the Bishop of Southwell on 26 February 1900, provides a detailed description of the design:

'The higher central portion contains a representation of the crucifixion boldly sculptured in white alabaster within a richly traceried, crocketted, and ogee-shaped arch. Underneath, in raised gilded letters are the words, “God so loved the world”. On each side of the central arch are traceried niches, one containing a figure of St Paul and the other St Peter. The arches are divided by moulded buttresses, terminated with carved pinnacles.'

The wall on either side is covered with polished alabaster low panelling, arched and traceried, and surrounded with carved cornices. The panelling includes a sedilia.

The work was executed by Farmer and Brindley of London from a design, and under the direction of, Heazell and Son, architects of Nottingham.

An alabaster plaque on the south wall of the sanctuary records that the reredos was installed in memory of Thomas Hardy of Bulwell Hall.

The altar itself was made of Derbyshire alabaster and was dedicated to Arthur Reeve, a former churchwarden.

An inscription on the oak altar rails reads:

IN MEMORY OF
EDWIN WIDDOWSON
CHURCH WARDEN 1891-1910 DIED 1935
AND HIS WIFE REBECCA (NEE JEPHSON)
DIED 1929
GIVEN BY THEIR GRAND DAUGHTER
JOYCE EDDISON
1966

Choir stalls

Stalls in the
south choir

Poppy head

Vestry door

The traceried choir stalls have poppyheads.

Vestry Door

The oak vestry door was given by Dan Raynor as a memorial to his wife, Jennie, in 1967. The inscription on the door reads:

JENNIE RAYNOR
1890 - 1966

Reader's desk

The traceried reader's desk on the south side of the choir has a metal plaque above the seat backrest that reads:

This Stall is the Gift of Georgina Strutt
for the use of the Rector of Bulwell in thanksgiving for the
Centenary of the consecration of this Church on November 4th 1950,
and in loving memory of her Parents Edwin Widdowson (1846 1935)
sidesman and Church Warden from 1876 to 1911
and Rebecca Halton Widdowson 1846-1929.

Stools

A wooden stool in the chancel has an inscription that reads:

A TOKEN OF OUR LOVE FOR OUR MOTHER
DORA HOLLAND SAUNDERS, 1887-1930
FROM DAPHNE, DORA, MARY AND IRIS
DEDICATIONTIDE 1957

A stool in the south choir has an inscription reading:

A THANKOFFERING BY EDITH STONE
OF LONDON, ONTARIO, ON ATTAINING
HER 70TH BIRTHDAY, NOVEMBER 1957.

Desk

A desk with an inscription on the top that reads:

THE GIFT OF
CATHERINE WELLINGTON
R.I.P.
JULY 5, 1929

Nave

Font

There is a traceried octagonal stone font with a bracketed wooden cover.

The inscription around the base of the cover reads:

THANKOFFERING
FOR OUR PARENTS
JOHN AND SARAH
ROBINSON FROM
TOM AND BRENDA
CHRISTMAS 1956

Baptistery Screen

Oak screen to
the West Room

The oak screen to the West Room was originally part of the Baptistery built in the north-west part of the church in 1956. It was moved here in 1978.

An inscription runs along the top of the screen:

IN MEMORY OF ROBERT WILLIAM STAINFORTH 1894 – 1969, CHURCHWARDEN

There is also a metal plaque near the original site of the 1956 Baptistery:

1978
The Baptistery was moved to its present position
by the kind consent of ENA MARY PEARSON,
one of the original donors, and the relatives of
GEORGINA STRUTT.

Pulpit

The traceried octagonal pulpit dates from 1891. It is made of Caen stone, with small pillars of Derbyshire marble, and is dedicated to the memory of the Rev W.H. Cantrell:

TO THE GLORY OF GOD THIS PULPIT IS ERECTED BY THE PARISHIONERS IN GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
THE REVD W.H. CANTRELL WHO WAS RECTOR OF THIS PARISH FOR 25 YEARS 1891

Lectern

The brass eagle lectern dates from the 19th century.

South Porch Doors

A metal plaque near the doors to the south porch reads:

1997

THE CHURCH DOORS
REFURBISHED
IN MEMORY OF

STANLEY TAYLOR

South Aisle

Reredos in St George's Chapel

The reredos

Abraham and Isaac

St George

In 1964 a reredos was donated for the altar in St George's Chapel by Stanley and Olive Thomas. It is the work of Robert Thompson, the well known 'Mouseman' of Kilburn in North Yorkshire.

The centre panel depicts Saint George, the left two panels show the Annunciation and Nativity while the right two portray Abraham and the sacrifice of Isaac as well as the Resurrection.

An inscription carved on the reredos reads:

THE GIFT OF
STANLEY AND OLIVE THOMAS
1964

Christus Rex

There is a Christus Rex on the tracery of the blocked window above the reredos.

A metal plaque nearby reads:

CHRISTUS REX

A gift from friends and family
in loving memory of

GILBERT GIMSON
1932 – 2009

Reading desk

There is a brass plaque on a reading desk in the chapel that reads:

PRESENTED TO
THE CHURCH BY THE
CHILDREN FROM THEIR LENTEN SAVINGS
1900

Tables

There are also two wooden tables in the chapel that have the inscriptions:

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ANNIE ROSETTA BOWLEY
R.I.P. 1909 FROM HER FAMILY
FRANK BOWLEY CANON 1957

IN MEMORY OF ANN REARDON 1888 – 1955 R.I.P.

Memorial Table

The inscription carved on the memorial table reads:

IN MEMORY OF
ROSENA HARRIET BLACK
AND
AGNES SAVAGE
MICHAELMAS 1957

Upper Hall

On the north wall of the Upper Hall is a steel plaque that states:

SAINT MARY THE VIRGIN
AND ALL SOULS
The West Room and Upper Hall were dedicated by
The Lord Bishop of Southwell
on the 3rd April 1978, the Eve of the Feast of
the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Rector:- The Reverend Walter Beasley, B.A.
Churchwardens:- Robert Naylor L.T.I., Gilbert Gimson B.Ed.
Treasurer:- Iris Smith
Architect:- E. Vernon Royle, F.R.I.B.A. Contractors:- T.M.Blatherwick & Co.

Also on the north wall (within the tower) are two benefaction boards.