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HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST
IN THE PARISH OF BOLDRE, NEW FOREST, HAMPSHIRE, ENGLAND
EARLY HISTORY - The exact date of the origins of the Church of St John the Baptist at Boldre will always remain a matter for some speculation. Since there are three sarsen stones in the early foundations of the present church, it does seem at least possible that the site served as a place of worship as long ago as 2000 B.C., the heyday of stone circles, long before the coming of Christianity. It has even been suggested that the choice of St John the Baptist as patron saint might have been influenced by the fact that his Festival Day falls in Midsummer, and as such was a favourite for a site converted by the Early Church to the "New Religion". This origin may have been one reason for the church's unusual position, high on a hill and well away from any kind of village, dominating the surrounding countryside of field and wood. It is not in fact the only Forest church to be somewhat isolated, since a number of them, like Brockenhurst and Bramshaw, were placed on high ground in the centre of the large and scattered parishes they served, rather than within any one particular village.
DOMESDAY BOOK & NORMANS - The church is not mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, although the civil Hundred of 'Bovre' - probably a Norman corruption of "Bol Re" (plank over river) - is there, with its links with the Priory of Twyneham, Christchurch. This may have been an omission by the compilers caused by the confusion over the major tax reassessments after the Afforestation, especially as Boldre's entry is the worst page in the book. There are in fact many other instances of unchronicled Saxon churches, and Boldre may have been one of those ruined in the Norman Spoliation of AD 1070. Since Boldre is mentioned as the headquarters of the Hundred in the Domesday Book it is likely to have achieved this status partly by the importance of its church at the time. Certainly a Charter of c.1100 refers to Bolra church with its chapel of Brokehurst.
It is accepted that a church was built at Boldre by William I immediately after the Afforestation in 1079, or possibly even before, as a church of secular canons had been established in Saxon times at Christchurch and their active ministry field stretched between Poole and Boldre.
In view of the acknowledged link with the Afforestation, and taking into account all the available evidence, the church celebrated its 900th anniversary in 1987, and a commemorative plaque is to be found at the eastern end of the South Aisle on the northern wall of the arch leading to the tower.
POSITION IN THE AREA - For centuries Boldre was the Mother Church of the southern New Forest, a situation which dated back to the 12th century. A Charter of Baldwin de Redvers (1140-50) confirms to Hyllary, dean of the canons at Christchurch Twyneham, the church of Bolra with its chapels of Limnetona and Brokenhurst. This confirms it as the senior church in the area - despite the Royal hunting lodge at Brockenhurst - within 15 years of the Domesday book. Boldre had its status as a vicarage ordained between 1151-1172 and after the Dissolution of Christchurch Priory by Henry VIII in 1539 it obtained its own independence in 1561.
Boldre's extensive parish contained the chapelries of Brockenhurst and Lymington. These were served by curates of Boldre for many centuries, although strenuous efforts were made by Lymington to secure their own vicar. In 1839 Sway and East Boldre were assigned their own Parishes, followed by South Baddesley in 1859. Brockenhurst had achieved its own independence in 1806, but Lymington did not become legally separated from Boldre until 1869.
The present boundaries of the parish enclose an area of 7718 acres and include Battramsley, Walhampton, Portmore, Bull Hill, Pilley Bailey, Pilley and Boldre, most of which were recorded in the Domesday Book.
GROWTH OF THE BUILDING THROUGH THE CENTURIES - Each century from the eleventh to the present day has made its contribution to the building. After the Norman conquest these were the main phases:
The Norman Church - 1080-1175 - All that remains of this stage of the building today is to be seen in the three easternmost arches of the South Arcade with their piers. There may have been a corresponding north aisle, of which there is no evidence now, so forming a small church with nave, two aisles and an apsidal chancel, all typical of the period.
Thirteenth Century - 1220-1240 -The North Chapel was built, and named after Isabella de Fortibus, Countess of Devon. Although the Fleur-de-Lys window has disappeared, three armorial shields of great families connected to her can still be seen in a drawing of the window made in 1802. A piece of weather moulding on the outer face of the chapel's west wall, now visible in the choir vestry, seems to indicate that there had been an annexe to the west of the chapel when it was built.
The South Porch also belongs to this period. The trefoiled opening in the gable of the porch was originally a niche containing a statue, but now holds a window of St Nicholas, patron saint of sailors, as part of the HOOD memorial.
1270-1280 - The Nave was lengthened, with a corresponding South Aisle, to the present West Wall with its doorway and shallow buttresses. The octagonal piers to this arcade, and the mouldings and shape of their capitals are rather unusual, and there is evidence of a misalignment of the new walls by the builders on the easternmost of the extension's piers.
Fourteenth Century - Soon after 1300 The Chancel and lower part of The Tower were built, the former superseding the original Norman Chancel.
Sixteenth Century - The North Wall of the Nave would seem to belong to this period, together with the Buttress at the North west corner.
Seventeenth Century - 1697 - The Buttress at the South western corner of the church was built and the upper part of The Tower was rebuilt in brick. Two stone panels on the south side of the tower read: Richard Bugden, John Barnes, Church Wardens 1697 Bernard Brougham Vicar 1697.
Eighteenth Century - During the Gothic revival the original Windows in the South Aisle were replaced by windows with clear diamond leaded panes. William Gilpin, vicar 1777-1804, was responsible for much other work in the church.
Nineteenth Century - 1855 - The Chancel was completely rebuilt from a few feet above the ground and given a plaster ceiling. Twenty years later this ceiling was removed, revealing wooden rafters.
Late Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries - Considerable restoration and renovation took place during this period, including the replacing of the whole of the plasterwork of the ceiling. New vestries were built and the Sanctuary enlarged. It was during this period that much new work on the windows was undertaken, making the church much lighter
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The most recent renovation took place in 1996 when the West Wall had to have a major overhaul at very short notice.
CONTINUED
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