St Nicholas’ Church is a Grade II* listed building.^[2] The church’s dedication was changed in 1490, to St Nicholas having previously been dedicated to St Magnus Martyr.^[3]

The church was rebuilt in 1776, reusing medieval foundations and is considered a good example of the early Gothic revival. The rebuilding was financed by the Frampton family, who lived in the nearby manor house. The north aisle was added in 1841 and most internal fittings were renewed c1847.

The adventurer T. E. Lawrence (“Lawrence of Arabia”), who died in 1935, is buried in the separate churchyard. He was a cousin of the Frampton family and had been a frequent visitor to their home, Okers Wood House. Lawrence’s mother arranged with the Framptons to have him buried in their family plot in the separate burial ground of St Nicholas’ Church.^[4][5] Mourners included Winston and Clementine Churchill, E. M. Forster, and Lawrence’s youngest brother Arnold.^[6][1][7]

In 1940, the church suffered a direct hit from a German bomb, and was largely destroyed.^[1] It was rebuilt over the following decade, but the stained glass windows were replaced with plain green glass, which was not liked by the congregation.^[1]

Laurence Whistler was commissioned to provide engraved glass replacements, and after making twelve, he offered to make and donate the thirteenth with a design on the theme of Forgiveness featuring Judas.^[1] The offer was declined, but he made the window anyway.^[1] After being displayed in a local museum, it was eventually installed – on the outside of the church (as the artist intended) – in 2014.^[1]

The picture in yesterday’s post is a detail from the Dome Fernery.  It is one of the follies that can be seen in Westonbury Mill Water Gardens.  The dome is made from sunlit wine bottles that are cemented together to provide this extraordinary structure.  From the inside it is quite dazzling as you can see.

This folly appears in a book entitled ‘The Follies of Europe‘.  The book states that:

Following publicity about his folly-fueled exploits, and elderly man telephoned Pim to offer eighty-five blue bottles, the outcome of the glass of sherry consumed each Sunday by his wife as she cooked lunch.  Friends have christened the folly the ‘blotto-grotto’, and continue to toast it with empty bottles.

Martin Rees (B 1942)