St Mary’s Church Great Brickhill has some very old artefacts on display. Few of us have given them a second thought. They are there, cared for and polished from time to time so that you can enjoy their company!
This unassuming, small bench seat, located in a side aisle could tell a story: It dates back to the early 1700s, in Queen Anne’s reign. The bench would have been one of several in the Church at a time when there were no pews to sit on and worshipers were expected to stand throughout religious services. The benches were arranged against the walls and used only by the elderly and infirm. The phrase “With their backs against the wall” passed into the vernacular to imply “a person with disadvantages”.
The Dole Chest: The Chest is located next to the organ. It was used, in the past, by the Village Feoffee’s Charity to store their legal documents (Indentures) and their Accounts Books. It was an early form of “Safe Deposit Box”. Today it unused, but might contain choir robes or other items for use in church services. It is not locked but the iron clasps are quite fragile and you should take care if trying to peep inside! It was the forerunner to “The Dole” support payment system used for unemployed persons today.
If you look under the Altar (very carefully) you can see the legs of the Altar Table (on modern wooden blocks). The Altar Table dates from Tudor times but water damage and age rot made it unstable (hence the modern blocks). Sadly the table top was very damaged and was replaced by a modern top at the beginning of the C20. No doubt, if this had happened today, a more sensitive restoration would have been possible.
This odd looking chair is located to the right of the altar. It has long legs, reminiscent of a bar stool! It was made especially for the young lads who had a very specific role in the life of the Church. Early in the C18, the Church had a wooden Minstral Gallery and the Village Band would climb some steps at the West End of the Church and play for services (not very well – as rumour had it). Towards the end of the C19th a very fine pipe organ was purchased which replaced the Minstral Gallery band. The organ had bellows located in the Vestry. This chair was made especially to allow a young lad to sit on it and pump the bellows . A village resident (sadly, now recently died after a very long life living here) was the last to earn 6d. per service pumping the bellows for the hymn singing. The bellows are now pumped by electricity!