West Bridgford St Giles

High Altar

The oak altar in the chancel was presented by members of the church and the West Bridgford Branch of the British Legion.

It was dedicated on Sunday, 14th June 1942 to the memory of the late Rector, Canon Hatfield, who was for many years President of the branch.

A plaque on the south wall of the chancel, close to the altar, acknowledges:

The reredos

'The Good Shepherd'

Reredos behind High Altar

The reredos behind the high altar is of oak, carved with vines. On either side are angels clothed in priestly vestments, one holding an orb, and the other a crown of thorns, with the text Diligis me (do you love me). The centre picture of the reredos in the chancel is a painting of 'The Good Shepherd' by Edward Woore.

A past rector, Canon Wilkinson, felt that the painting was not entirely in keeping with the ancient architecture of the church and so covered it with a picture of 'The Four Seasons'. In the left panel is a lamb and a cross on a hill; in the right is a ram caught in a thicket.

The reredos was a gift, as recorded on a plaque discreetly mounted on its southern side which reads:

The father was Alderman Louis Oram Trivett, who had founded a plain net manufacturing business, which became one of the best known in Nottingham’s Lace Market. He had many interests but probably the chief one was the Boy Scout movement and he was a personal friend of Lord Baden Powell. Trivett played a major part in founding the West Bridgford troop and presented them with a Scouts’ Hut on Eltham Road. Many people called him ‘the Orchid King’ as his hobby was growing orchids and he was rarely seen without one in his button hole.

His son, Louis Leslie Trivett, was born in 1897 and was just 18 years old when he became a temporary Second Lieutenant in the Worcestershire Regiment on 8th September 1915. He was transferred to the Royal Berkshire Regiment in January 1917 and was reported wounded in May of that year. He also became very involved in the local Scout movement and lived to the age of 78.

A plaque on the south wall of the chancel records:

Shields

There are shields to either side of the piscina in the chancel, bearing the arms of York and Southwell.

Choir Stalls

North choir stalls

Detail

Detail

Detail

Detail

The choir stalls have a number of delightful carvings.

Clergy Seats

The two, fixed, carved clergy seats for the priest and deacon in the chancel are both of the same design.

Each chair bears a plaque worded:

Ornamental Iron Screen

The decorative iron screens at the entrance to the chancel were erected in 1898 and include the wording 'Enter into his courts with praise'.

Choir Screen

Choir screen immediately after installation

Screen in 2013

The oak screen behind the choir stalls, separating them from the George Chapel, was given by the Flewitt family in 1948, together with the pulpit.

The picture shows the screen immediately after its installation. The screen was made by Bowmans of Stamford.

Triangular Window

The triangular window in the old chancel is a replica.

The original medieval window is displayed in the church porch.

George Chapel Altar and Reredos

The altar and reredos in the George Chapel are very plain.

At the front of the altar is carved 'Love one another even as I have loved you'.

Pulpit

The carved oak pulpit entered into use in 1948. There is a plaque on the southern pillar at the entrance to the George Chapel that reads:

The previous pulpit, which had been in use since about 1870, was of somewhat mixed parentage. It had been created by turning the oak panels of its predecessor inside-out and carving them and then adding a base formed of the old sounding board and pillars made out of the old altar rails. This pulpit was repaired in 1886, with 'some excellent carving corresponding with that upon the choir screen', at a cost of £20. When eventually removed, the old pulpit was found to be in a precarious condition. Floods had induced rot into the wood and some of it had to be burned at once to avoid the risk of the fungus spreading.

Lectern

The brass eagle lectern replaced, in 1899, a substantial oak lectern which had been in use for many years, but was passed to Edwalton Church.

Around the base of the current lectern is written:

Balcony to Ringers' Gallery

The panelled oak balcony to the ringer's gallery was granted a faculty in 1960.

Font

The octagonal font is of plain design and thought to date from the fourteenth century. It bears the marks of the staples and hinges that would have fastened the old lid.

The font was moved under the tower during the church restoration in 1871. It was then moved into its current position as part of the work of installing the peal of bells in 1956.

Mother & Child

The sculpture of the 'Mother & Child' in the room at the west end of the church, known as The Haven, is by Peter Eugene Ball. It is made from wood, copper, silver and gold leaf and stands two and a half feet high. The faculty was granted in 2005.

The statue has the plaque on its base reading:

Collection Box

The collection box used during the fundraising to extend the church has been preserved on the west wall.

Painted on the front is 'Church Extension Weekly Voluntary Offerings'.

Box Pews

Before the 1871 restoration, St Giles' had high deal pews of irregular shape. Boards from these were used to make the ceiling in the stone entrance porch.

Pew Rail

Carved at the bottom of the pew rail is 'CONFIRMATION 1941'.

Home Guard Old Comrades Association

The plaque reads:

The jewel itself is inscribed: 'No 3 PLATOON 2ND NOTTS BATTALION HOME GUARD'.

Shelf

A plaque on the shelf below the window to the east of the porch records that the shelf is:

Vestibule Screen

The vestibule screen, of Austrian oak, was the gift of local freemasons 'in commemoration of those brethren of the lodge who have been summoned to the Grand Lodge above'. It was dedicated at a service on 29th April 1934. Carved on the east side of the screen is a masonic symbol and these words:

Shelf

A plaque on the shelf below the window to the west of the porch records that the shelf is:

Rood Screen

Screen in the old chancel

Screen in current position

Rood cross

Carving of fox

Carving

The most notable feature in the church is the rood screen, which has moved backwards and forwards during its long life at St Giles' before settling at its present position forming the entrance to the south chapel.  It has been described as having the character of a stone screen carried out in wood, with mason joints; stylistically it dates from the late 14th century.

The screen has been much repaired during its life. The most authentic tracery ornament is that to the north, where a fox carrying its prey is carved.

Elizabethan Communion Table

The communion table in the south chapel is late Tudor, with its legs extended to bring it to a suitable height. It was placed there in 1932 when the old south chancel was converted into a lady-chapel. It replaced an oak table of Georgian character.

A plaque on the east wall of the clergy vestry records that the clock there was a gift: