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The North Aisle

Updated: May 20, 2021

In the north aisle there is a reclining effigy. Very little is known about this person who appears to be a woman dressed in late medieval fashion. This effigy is headless - a head in the wall of the porch may be from this figure.


In this area, now used as an exhibition space, are historical displays and exhibitions of contemporary art and craft relevant to this church and the area. There is a permanent display of important Festal Vestments designed and made specifically for this church by the internationally known Beryl Dean — a major figure in the revival of ecclesiastical embroidery in the late twentieth century.

In the west wall is a stained glass window in memory of George Ridout, formerly lecturer at William Jones Almshouses and then Vicar of Newland, who died in 1871, and of Mary, his wife. It was during his time at Newland that the major restoration of the church was undertaken. This window depicts the calling of the disciples.


The eastern part of this aisle houses only one monument, it is in memory of another member of the Bond family, the other monuments having been taken down and not replaced in the nineteenth-century restoration. The stained glass window in this area is in memory of Thomas Birt, lecturer at Jones Almshouses, who died 1813 and of his wife and daughters. This depicts, amongst a variety of New Testament scenes, the Resurrection and St Mary Magdalene with her pot of ointment.

The north door in this aisle leads out into the area of the churchyard which, as in all early churchyards, was only used for the burial of the unbaptised and suicides. During the nineteenth century changes were made in the ecclesiastical law thus allowing other burials to take place in this area. The contrast between the meagre memorial stones in this section of the churchyard and those in other parts, which contain many fine table tombs, is very apparent.



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