Blanche Parry

centre. Both are unmarked and may be older than the c.1479 Nettlecombe (Somerset) chalice, though similarities of design suggest the same silversmith.

It is possible that the donor was Alderman John Capel, died 1505 and Mayor of Gloucester in 1484. If so, the recipients were probably the Augustinian Canons of Lanthony (Llanthony) Secunda in Gloucester. When dissolved in 1539 the canons' Herefordshire property included Fawley later held by Blanche Parry. In 1548, during the reign of the protestant King Edward VI (1547–1553), the form of the Mass was replaced by a new Order of Communion which required all parishioners to regularly, and often, receive both the consecrated bread and wine. At the same time ornate Church plate, including chalices and patens, with other furnishings had to be surrendered. This meant that larger, plainer chalices were now required and presumably Bacton had to obtain a set. However, when King Edward died his successor was his half–sister, the catholic Queen Mary (1553–1558). She attempted to return the Church to the previous form of the Mass. It is possible that it was then that the parish hastily acquired this beautifully decorated chalice and paten, perhaps with the help of Blanche's family, then the wealthiest landowners in Bacton parish. They would have replaced the larger, plainer set until Church Services changed yet again in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603).

Miles ap Harry Windows

For over 300 years these 15th century stained–glass windows were displayed in Bacton's east end chancel window. They depict Miles ap Harry, died 1488, and his wife Joan (née Stradling), Blanche Parry's grandparents. Miles and Joan are shown, kneeling, either side of an altar tomb flanked, left, by their 12 sons and, right, their 7 daughters (many named in Miles ap Harry's 1488 Will). The Parry coat–of–arms of argent a fess between three lozenges azure has a central place and Miles has an open book turned towards him. He and his sons are bareheaded and wear long gowns, except for one son in armour. The foremost son is Henry Myles, Blanche's father, Steward of Dore Abbey and three times Sheriff of Herefordshire. Joan wears a tight–fitting cap, while her daughters each have a more fashionable head–dress, the hair being drawn from the face into a hood at the back of the head which was then covered by a thin veil.

In 1811, Mrs. Mary Burton, a Parry descendant, removed the windows to Atcham Church (Shropshire) where her husband was the incumbent. This was possible because the Revd. J. Higgins had acquired the additional living of Llanwarne in 1810 and so was not resident in Bacton parish. Claiming the windows were being vandalised, she is said to have gained permission by making the churchwardens drunk! She gave Bacton Church a cotton velvet pulpit cloth embroidered with her arms as recompense. Later, Revd. J.G. Monro unsuccessfully negotiated for the windows' return by offering replacement cathedral glass. A second window in Atcham Church has coats–of–arms and a representation of Blanche Parry's Bacton memorial.

(For photographs of these windows see blancheparry.com and Blanche Parry's biography)

Parish Records

Apart from the books still in use, the surviving records are in Herefordshire Record Office, in Hereford. The earliest are two 1614 glebe terriers and two leather–bound books, with coarse paper, of churchwardens' accounts, vestry minutes, overseers' accounts and charity payment notes. Dating from 1715, they are fascinating as parishioners are linked to their farm names. The parish general register, on vellum, has a few entries from 1710 on the flyleaf but the main entries are 1724 to 1812. After this, separate registers were used for births, marriages and deaths. In addition, there are documents relating to the sale of the Bacton estate.