July 24.
Mr. Croker read the following letter from the Rev. Thomas Dean to Albert Way, Esq., respecting the state of Little Malvern church, Worcestershire.
Sir,—I beg to draw your attention, and through you the attention of the members of the British Archæological Association, to the state of Little Malvern church, situate in the county and diocese of Worcester. Notwithstanding the silent ravages of time and the rude hand of the spoliator, this church contains many very valuable remains of medieval piety, and many interesting specimens of Christian ornament, which are highly deserving of preservation. The entire restoration of this church is an object more to be desired than expected, but even that is not impossible, and would certainly reflect much honour and consolation to any benevolent individual or association invested with sufficient means and taste and skill to restore its ancient proportions. The east window is a rich specimen of the painted glass of the fifteenth century. It is coeval with the rebuilding of the church by Bishop Alcock about the year 1450. This window originally contained what might be considered a continuous history of the royal family of Edward IV. Several of the compartments are still nearly perfect, and a judicious hand would probably be able to restore the whole. The royal arms, those of Beauchamp, of Woodville, and of Alcock, then bishop of Worcester, and probably formerly prior of Little Malvern, are nearly perfect. So are also the figures of the queen and of Prince Edward, afterwards Edward V., who was murdered in the Tower. Another compartment, nearly perfect, contains the figures of three daughters of Edward IV., the eldest of whom, the Princess Elizabeth, afterwards became queen of Henry VII., and united the hostile houses of York and Lancaster; she is dressed in rich attire, and affords one of the finest specimens now remaining of the female costume of that age.
The chancel contains some interesting specimens of the tiles of the fifteenth century and a few of much earlier date.
In the window which is inserted in the arch of the south aisle there is a most beautiful specimen of painted glass, taken from some part of the ancient church, which is probably a representation of the first person in the Godhead; this figure is nearly perfect, and the exquisite beauty of it is unique.
The church originally consisted of a chancel, nave, two transepts, two side chapels, and a sacristy or holy chapel behind the Altar, of which there now remains only the chancel and part of the nave, the remainder is entirely in ruins and overgrown with ivy. Portions of the entire walls and windows remain and may easily be traced. The rood-beam is of beautiful workmanship and with the miserere seats and chancel-screen require attention. The pulpit and reading-desk are in a sadly dilapidated and wretched state. Some of the pews are of the most offensive character and disfigure the building.
The decency requisite for the due service of Almighty God demands that something should immediately be done to restore this interesting church, which has suffered so much from civil and religious discord; but when the state of the parish and of the living, only a perpetual curacy of £44. 10s. per annum, is taken into consideration, it is evident that local means are inadequate to so extensive a work. There are also difficulties of a nature which may in some degree militate against any effort to restore the ancient Christian dignity of this venerable structure, but I trust these will yield to the influence of proper feeling, and no longer embarrass the efforts to renovate this splendid monument of the zeal and piety of our ancestors. And to God alone be the glory.
