The Nave - Corff Eglyws

The Nave of the church is of a simple rectangular design with a vestry to the south (which now contains a toilet cubicle), an enclosed kitchen area to the west, and a porch to the north.

Originally, benches, not pews were in place for the congregation, with separate sittings for the men and the women.  Documents inform us that there were two points of entry to the nave: men from a west end door and women from a south side door.  An ornate iron screen, now removed, would have been at the chancel steps separating the congregation from the Williams family, who would use the northeast door for entry to their seats in the chancel.  Original plans indicate there was an organ loft and gallery over the west entrance for school children & women, the staircase being concealed by a screen.  These features no longer exist.

The stone font consists of a medieval font bowl mounted on a stone 'stem; (probably dating from 1840).  The stone stem is particularly high and generally, the Vicar needs to use a platform to elevate himself in order to use the font safely.  The font is used for baptism services for children and adults.  Around this area, and near the chancel, the church is decorated by a number of banners made recently and over the years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The carved oak lectern, used for reading from The Bible, was installed in 2002 as a replacement after a theft in 1999.  Carved by specialist woodcarver Chris Pye, the lectern depicts the traditional design of an eagle, with the inscription from Psalm 119, "Your word is a light to my path".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The nave windows are long and narrow, bearing some resemblance to King's College Chapel Cambridge.  On the outside, the windows are framed with red sandstone, which over the years has become weather damaged.

From a document of 'Plans for the chapel at Aberpergwm', it appears that the windows of the building were to be so placed that nobody in the chapel could see people who are outside.  The North Window was installed in 1884 and depicts Jesus the Saviour of the World with St Peter to his right and St John on his left.  Peter is depicted with the traditional set of large keys (as Jesus promises to give Peter keys for opening the gates to heaven in the Gospel of Matthew 18:19 ), whilst St John  appears to be holding a cup from which emerges a dragon-like beast.  This may refer to a conversation between John and Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 20:22, where Jesus asks whether John is able to drink from the same cup of suffering that he himself is going to drink from in his coming crucifixion; or it may be some sort of reference to the images of the devil that John portrays in his Book of Revelation.  In either case, this is rather unusual imagery, and in St Mary's church, where John is clearly identified as a writer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The pulpit is reached by a small number of steps. 

The Vestry was re-ordered in 2003 to include a multi-access toilet cubicle.  This contains a Biolet toilet system, which does not use water; rather the waste is broken down by micro-organisms and the resulting humus can used on the garden!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bellcote East Window Memorials
The Chancel St Cadoc's Church Tour Graves and Churchyard