208 Steeple Ashton, Semington, and Wliaddon Chicrches. 



The window over the west door has had its tracery renewed, but 

 it harmonises very well with the rest of the work (and with the 

 old window in the north aisle), and it is to be presumed that it is 

 a copy of the original ; the tracery has carved cusps and much of 

 the feeling of Decorated work : in the windows of the upper stages, 

 also, that period is distinctly marked. The height of the former 

 nave against which this tower was built is indicated by a 

 set-off and marks of the line of the roof on either side of the east 

 face. 



The inscription on the other brass, at the west end of the nave, 

 which was over the gallery at the west end of the tower, is as 

 follows : — 



Upon this Tower was a Famous 

 and Lofty Steeple, Containing in 

 Height above the Tower 93 Foot; 

 which a Violent Storm of Thunder 

 and Lightning rent a great 

 Breach therein, July ye 25th in 

 the year of our Lord 1670. 

 The Parish willing to preserve such 

 a Noble and Compleat Spyre, 

 endeavoured to Kepair the 

 same by employing able workmen 

 for that purpose. But such was the 

 uncontroulable providence of 

 Almighty God, that when it was 

 almost finished, and the workmen 

 Labouring thereon ; another terrible 

 Storm of Thunder and Lightning 

 happened October 15th the same 

 year, which threw down the 

 Steeple, and killed the two men 

 Labouring thereon, and beat down 

 the top of the Tower and Great 

 part of the Body of the Church, 

 with part of the Isles thereof ; 

 the reparation whereof cost 

 the Parish and some other well 

 Disposed Neighbours the Sum 

 of 420 Pounds, and was finished 

 in the Year of our Lord God 

 1675. By John Stileman Gent and 

 John Tucker, Churchwardens. 



