. 1738 
ETATSE 
HELEN UXOR 
ERAT NANM 
HVM 
PHRENMQ 
RELIOM. 
Over the south door-way is a coloured stone tablet of a fish, a good specimen 
of a trout, having a gold chain round its neck. Some consider it emblematic of 
the patron saint and the tribute money miraculously procured. There is a legend 
of a fish of unusual dimensions having been caught by one of the church-wardens in 
the little river Dore, hard by, and that a plaster cast was taken and affixed in the 
church to commemorate the circumstance. But probably it originally was placed 
there as the well-known Christian emblem. The separate letters of "Ix @vs 
—the Greek word for fish—constituting the initials of "Incods Xpirds Oeod 
Tws Zwrjp. In the tower are a few tablets and an old stone of some antiquity. 
The font of stone is ancient—coeval with the period of the church—very 
singular in form, narrowed in the waist with a rope moulding, such as forms a 
beading externally round the apse, which ornament has been cleverly used by 
the architect in the decoration of the stone pulpit. 
Before the restoration two galleries once existed, one in the entrance to the 
chancel, which only the men entered, and to which there was access by a 
circular staircase from the chancel in the way to the roodloft; and the other, which 
was removed in 1869, was at the west end of the nave, and was a rough structure 
used as a singing gallery. It had no medieval interest at all, though relics might 
perchance once have been exhibited from it. Two other rough modern galleries 
were also taken down in 1869 in the nave and in the chancel on the north. During 
the restoration in 1869, and chiefly in the chancel, a very large quantity of human 
remains were found within two or three inches of the surface of the floor level. 
They had apparently been buried without ever being encased in coffins, and 
perhaps had first been hurriedly buried elsewhere. In a hole dug for a single 
scaffold pole I saw about a dozen skulls alone removed. All these remains were 
earefully buried again in the churchyard. 
The old nave roof was blown down and destroyed by a dreadful storm of wind 
in 1869. It was of oak. At the restoration it was reproduced exactly in form 
and shape, but not in oak. There was a porch at the north entrance to the nave, 
but being in a very dilapidated state, and of no architectural interest, it was 
removed. The architect, Mr. Thomas Edgar Williams, has a harmonious design 
ready for a new stone porch when the funds, so much desired, are forthcoming. 
Re-hung in the tower are six melodious bells, of the following diameters :— 
No. 1, 3ft. 4in. in diameter, with inscription, ‘‘Come at my call, and serve God 
all.” No. 2, 3ft., ‘‘Prosperity to this parish.” 1782. No. 3, 2ft. 9in., Thos. 
Rudham, Glo’ster Foundry. 1782. No. 4, 2ft. 7in. (no inscription). No. 5, 
2ft. 6in., The gift of S. Exton, C. W. 1782. No. 6, 2ft. 4in., The gift of Charles 
Garrett, in lieu of one cracked. 1872. By Taylor and Cox, Loughboro’, 
The spire and tower are Decorated (14th century) and were a short time back 
