The North Door of St Edward's Church Stow on the Wold is famous. Yet it is just the back door to the church. The north side of the church is the unfashionable part of the churchyard where the paupers were buried. The wealthy of the parish were buried in the church or at the west and south end of the churchyard. St Edward's is different.The HistoryThe door at the north side of the church is a late addition to the medieval church. After the civil war of the 17th century the church was in a very run down condition. Repairs were undertaken in the late 17th and early 18th century and it is likely that this is when the new north door was built. Around this time the Rector of the parish lived next to the church in the building that is now Stow Lodge Hotel. There is a gate in the wall to allow him to cut through the grounds to the church. Perhaps the north door is so grand because the Rector used it. We don't have the written records but it makes sense that this short cut was made to look impressive for the incumbent who had the living.The Lord of the RingsIn the first book of the trilogy the nine members of the fellowship of the ring ( and Bill the pony) are travelling to the Elvish kingdom of Lothlorien. A storm forces them to seek passage thought the mines under the mountain. The entrance is called Durin's door. It has two holly trees either side of it. We can't show you the image for copyright reasons by you can see it here:https://www.stowcivicsociety.co.uk/tolkien-doorJRR Tolkien lived in Oxford and his brother lived in Evesham. It is very possible that Tolkien stopped off in Stow on the Wold for a pie and a pint on his way to visit his relative. What is more interesting perhaps, is that Tolkien has a real feel for landscape and story and he may have discerned an older story in Stow's history. Perhaps Tolkien came across our church on its high point on the hill, the place where the last battle of the English Civil War was fought and he reflected on conflict and the power of friendship.The doors into the mines that the fellowship open were created by a dwarf and and elf. Their races were fierce enemies yet these two became firm friends. This is echoed in the nine members of the fellowship by the friendship between Gimli the Dwarf and Legolas the elf.Might our lovely trees have stood for friendship? The story of Celebrimbor and Narvi is explored in the Rings of Power season 2.
If you have been into St Edward’s, Stow, in the past months, you will have noticed something missing from the wall near the South Door. The long overdue professional conservation of our very large 17th- century painting of The Crucifixion got underway on 23rd October 2024. In a fascinating process, the painting was carefully removed from the wall, given initial cleaning and protective repairs, removed from its frame and then rolled around a large drum before being removed to the Bristol studio of International Fine Art Conservation Studios. The painting will return to Stow in July 2025. During its absence, an 75% scale facsimile, generously provided by local firm Embrace Building Wraps, will hang in its place.The painting has hung in this church since 1837, when Mr Chamberlayne of Maugersbury donated it, having purchased it in Bruges, Flanders. Attribution to Gaspar de Crayer, court painter in the Southern Netherlands in the early 1600s, is now thought inaccurate. Experts have suggested it may be by Jan Baptist Herregouts (c.1640 - 1721) of Antwerp and Bruges.In view of the size of the canvas, the conservation process is very expensive and far beyond any justifiable cost for St Edward’s. However, the painting is an integral part of the church’s heritage and needs to be kept in a fit condition for the benefit of future generations. Fortunately, we have been successful in getting grants and donations that cover most of the cost from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, the Ian M Foulerton Charitable Trust, the National Churches Trust, the Leche Trust, St Andrew's Conservation Trust, Laslett's (Hinton) Charity and private donors.
Although we try to hold as many weddings as possible at St Edward's Church, sometimes it is not possible to create a qualifying connection by attendance. Couples may live too far away from Stow-on-the-Wold to attend monthly for six months. When this is the case we can hold a wedding blessing in our ancient church if you have been through a civil marriage conducted elsewhere. The blessing service can have all the traditional features of bells, bridesmaids, flowers, hymns and friends and family all dressed up. Alternatively, it can be a blessing with just the couple. For 2025 costs start at £540 for the service. A team of bellringers, the organist and flowers are charged separately if you want to have a larger service. We have plenty of local hotels and restaurants for a wedding breakfast for two or two hundred. Please contact us on secretary@stedwardsstow.org.uk to find out how we can make your wedding blessing a very special day.The small print: We would need to see a marriage certificate prior to the service. This is a blessing and not a legal marriage service.Canon Law does not allow us to bless same sex couples which is a great sadness, but this is where we are in 2025.
In August there was filming in Condicote for the Sister Boniface Mysteries Season Three. The Pound, with St Nicholas in the background, will be in season three episode three. We understand that filming was also taking place in gardens around the parish. Season 1 is showing on the BBC at the moment and if you have catch up tv you can see all of the first season on the BBC and seasons one and two on U.Those of us who live in the North Cotswolds can spend many hours watching out for local landmarks and shouting at the tv when locations don't match up. The vicar is well known for this when watching Inspector Morse, Lewis and Shoestring.
