modern stained-glass featuring Saint Faith. Alterations and repairs were undertaken in the 14th century. The two windows that survive from these alterations are the western windows in the nave north wall and in the chancel south wall respectively. The other windows, the small chancel doorway with moulded jambs, and the south doorway are all from the 15th century when the Church was lengthened.
As a substantial, stone building Bacton Church was used for regular Services and for all parish business including signing of contracts and payment of debts. Like all medieval Churches it was lime–washed outside and completely painted with colourful pictures on the inside. Traces of colour survive on roof timbers at the east end of the nave. Although the main roof timbers are late 15th century, several of the small carved angels may be even older.
The late 15th century choir stalls, or reading desks– have a carving of the Parry coat–of–arms of argent a fess between three lozenges azure on the corner of the widest panel of these stalls, signifying the seat for the most important cleric. Commissioned by Miles ap Harry, or his father Harri Ddu ap Gruffudd, for Bacton Church, it is possible, but less likely, they were reused from Dore Abbey after its 1537 Dissolution. The front panels' design, similar to domestic passage screens, has moulded frames and stop–chamfers on the uprights, while the tracery heads include spandrels of flowers and acorns, with four-petalled flowers. These stalls very probably matched the decoration of the vanished Bacton rood screen.
(see: blancheparry.com – Paper on Harri Ddu ap Gruffudd's Newcourt cupboard–panel & Welsh Furniture 1250–1950, vol. I by Richard Bebb, 2007 Saer Books)
Church Tower – altered late 16th century. In his 1573 Will, Symond Parry, great–grandson of Harri Ddu ap Gruffudd, grandson of Miles ap Harry, and a brother of Blanche Parry, bequeathed:
To build the steeple at Backton, £5 (about £800 today), so that the parishioners within 3 years of my decease do get a cunning and good workman to build the same.
Symond (or Simon) was buried here, near his brother. Many Parry ancestors, including Harri Ddu and Miles ap Harry, lie in the family vault. The tower was restored in 1907 and the clock was re–gilded in 1982 using donations given, instead of flowers, from the funerals of three parishioners.
Blanche ap Harry (or Parry)
(see Mistress Blanche, Queen Elizabeth I's Confidante by Ruth E. Richardson, 2007 Logaston Press.)
Blanche was Chief Gentlewoman of Queen Elizabeth's most honourable Privy Chamber and Keeper of Her Majesty's Jewels (from her epitaph in Saint Margaret's, Westminster where she was buried). Blanche was Queen Elizabeth's confidante – in charge of the Queen's jewels, books, furs, and for two years the Great Seal of England. She accepted money for the Queen, acted on the Queen's behalf as a personal assistant, passed information to the Queen and was a channel for parliamentary bills. Everyone at the royal court recognised her pre–eminent position. She intended to be buried in Bacton, where I have prepared a tomb – according to her First Will written at her dictation by Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Blanche's cousin and friend, when she was seriously ill. This dates the Bacton monument to before November 1578 (probably to 1576/1577). It must have been glorious when coloured. Its original position was where the organ stands – so Blanche, kneeling, faced the altar with Queen Elizabeth in the pose of Saint Faith. One of Saint Faith's functions was to aid the blind and at the end of her life Blanche was herself blind. This now dated, but unused, Bacton tomb is nevertheless nationally important for it is the
earliest known depiction of Queen Elizabeth I as an icon, as Gloriana.
The beautiful, framed, silk Altar Cloth is fashioned from an Elizabethan court dress which possibly belonged to the Queen. It was an honour to receive parts of dresses from her. This
©Ruth E. Richardson 2014
