The Church of St. Michael & All Angels Aston Clinton

A Brief History of the Church

The benefice of Aston Clinton, in the Middle Ages, formed part of the estates of noble families, who nominated a junior member or dependant, as 'Rector'. He received the benefice income, but appointed a 'Vicar', or substitute to do the pastoral work in the parish. In 1400, Thomas Tuttebury was Rector; he was a royal official, serving Richard II and Henry IV; later he became Dean of Chichester. The most distinguished of these 'Rectors' was George Neville, younger son of the Countess of Salisbury, appointed in 1452, at the age of 21. Later, he was bishop of Exeter and then Archbishop of York, but he never resided in Aston Clinton. His elder brother, Warwick, the 'King Maker', was a notable figure in the Wars of the Roses.

Under such aristocratic patronage, the church was built - first the Nave and Chancel in the 12th Century (which may have been dedicated by Robert Grosseteste, the great Bishop of Lincoln, in 1250); then the South Aisle late in the 13th Century when the Tower was probably added; and finally the North Aisle, with the quaint heads carved on the columns, in the 14th. The beginning of the way up to the Medieval Rood Screen may be seen at the East End of the South Aisle.

The fourteenth century stonework in the Chancel is very fine. There are three Sedilia-seats for the presiding Ministers at a Solemn Eucharist and a Piscina, used to drain away water used for cleaning the Chalice, on the South Side. Opposite is the Easter Sepulchre where the Blessed Sacrament rested from Good Friday to Easter day, recalling Christ's entombment after the Crucifixion. These perhaps were added by the Montacute family, whose young chief, the Earl of Salisbury fought at Crecy in 1346.

In 1932, a fragment of medieval painting was discovered on the South Chancel Wall. It is very faded, but looks like the fold of a robe. A speculative reconstruction, made at the time of the discovery, suggests it was part of a portrait of King Edward the Confessor, a popular Saint in the High Middle Ages.

In 1438, the Bishop of Lincoln complained that the bells were not rung during his pastoral visit. The possession of bells, and the fine stonework imply a degree of generous endowment by the aristocratic patrons of the parish.

During the 16th century Reformation, Churches were required to give an account of their property to King Henry VIII. The Church Wardens of Aston Clinton listed four bells hanging in the steeple and a sanctus bell, along with crosses, candlesticks and some vestments and altar cloths. In the reign of Mary I, John Percival was appointed Rector; he accepted the Prayer Book at the accession of Elizabeth I and continued in office. The first Parish Registers began in his time and record his burial.

In 1638 Sylvester Baldwin of Dundridge emigrated to one of the New England settlements: a stained glass window in the North Aisle has been dedicated in his memory by his modern American descendants. William Gerrard, Rector at the time inclined to the Puritans. He held his post during the Commonwealth, but was deprived at the Restoration of Charles II in 1626, whereupon he migrated to Tring, to preach in a dissenting Conventicle.

The new Rector, John Dunton, was an energetic preacher. He died in 1676 and is buried in the Chancel. The next three Rectors, William Gerrard, died 1706, Thomas Walker BD, died 1716 and Peter Waldo died 1746 are buried in the Sanctuary, their memorial slabs lying beside the altar.

By this time, Jesus College, Oxford had become Patrons of the living and incumbents are therefore often of Welsh extraction. Some were former Fellows of the College who moved to one of its livings in order to marry. The Revd. William Morgan D.D. married the daughter of William Minshull in 1787. He died and was buried on the North Side of the altar in 1798.

During the long incumbency of John George BD, 1799 to 1847, the Tower was rebuilt and the bells rehung. A small extra window was cut in the South Chancel Wall. About this time the Buckingham Arch deaconry, previously subject to the Bishop of Lincoln, became part of the Oxford Diocese.

The Rector Charles Watkin Wynne Eyton restored the Church extensively. During his time the Church was re-roofed with lead, the Chancel carved stonework was repaired, the Angels added to the Easter Sepulchre, the present stained glass inserted into the East Window, and the North Porch, the "Priests' Room" over the South Porch and the buttresses were all added.

The robed choir made its appearance in the days of Rector Thomas Williams 1881 - 1903 and a new organ was installed.

Restoration and repair continued under Rectors J.R. Cohu and H.E. Ruddy Rector D.J. Scurry Jones came in 1940 and to his initiative must be credited the handsome and comfortable oak pews. On 1950, an appeal was launched for the urgent repair of stonework in the South corner and the work was put in hand by the Rev. T.A. Lewis BD, who was instituted in 1955. Repair work was also necessary to the Tower. Recent years have seen the Church becoming lighter and brighter, an exterior rebuilding of the organ included the removal of the pipes to the West End and the consequent opening up of Chancel windows and a new lighting system was introduced. The Sanctuary has been almost completely refurnished with new altar table, frontal, candlesticks and carpets; another attractive feature is the provision of new Kneelers made by a number of workers in the parish, mostly having a design of angels, honouring the Church dedication, although the (usually Welsh) Rectors stall is splendidly adorned with a Red Dragon cushion.

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