Wellow Parish Church Brief history of The Parish of Wellow The village was at one time part of the Rufford  estate but in 1974 the Queen signed an Order in  Council making the Abbey and the larger part of  inhabited Rufford a part on the ecclesiastical parish  of Wellow.  Although the present church has been restored at  various times, it has stood on this spot for eight  centuries. The hopes and fears, the joys and  sorrows of generations of Wellow folk have been  brought within these walls. The martyrdom of  Thomas A'Becket was not long past when the  original structure was erected, probably about the  time of Richard the Lion Heart who began his reign  in 1189. There are traces of Transition (i.e. from the  Norman to early English style of architecture) in the  octagonal shafts and arches of the aisles.  The small splayed window in the north wall, this dates from the year 1190. The nave is  fourteenth century, the arcade is of two semicircular arches with octagonal pier and responds,  all fourteenth century. The window in the south wall is of still earlier date.  An interesting connection with Norman times is the font bowl under the west window. It is  round at the front and square at the back as it was originally made to stand against a wall.  This font is no longer used as all baptisms take place in the one which was added in later  centuries.  The tower is of three stages; the main structure is the same date as the nave (14th) the  battlement and pinnacles are Perpendicular (i.e. the Gothic style of the 14th and 15th  centuries) The tower has three bells with following inscriptions:   St Swithins 1. Jesus Be our Guide 1660 2. God save the church 1635 3. Gloria in exelsis Deo 1560 The porch, the chancel arch, the font and the pulpit are all modern. The channcel screen was   given in 1904 by Mr. J. A. Bell of Wellow House.  In the south aisle is a stained glass window bearing the following inscription: "To the glory of   God and to the memory of his beloved wife Louisa Blanche Foljambe who died October 7th,   1871 aged 29 years; and her son Frederick Comton Savile Foljambe who died August 21st,   1871." Mr Foljambe later became Lord Hawkesbury and later Earl of Liverpool. A semi-quatre   foil light above the window contains the figure of St. Swithin, the Patron Saint of the Church.  The east window of the chancel is in the memory of William S. Ward, surgeon, who lived at   Wellow Hall. In his day (last century) Wellow Hall was a hospital and dispensary for "the relief  of   the old and poor, from whatever county recommended". Before that the Hall was the seat of Sir   Francis Molyneux, Baronet. His body is buried in the family vault in Teversall Church. The   incumbent at the beginnig of the 20th century, the Rev. W. Beecher, lived there for many years   and only moved out when it was taken over by Sir Launcelot and Lady Maud Rolleston. He  then   made his home in the vicarage which was a converted farm house. This has now been sold  and is now in private ownership.   Webmaster