St Nicholas Church
Willoughby is an ancient settlement which was mentioned in the Domesday Book.
The church appears as early as 1215 and is Grade2 listed. the building has continued to grow and evolve since that date.
The West Tower is believed to have first been constructed between 1215 and 1280 and the sandstone font present in the church today dates from that period. Most of the present church, including the north aisle and the nave date from the 1450s onwards, with major renovations in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth centuries.
The beautiful stained glass windows, which demonstrate different architectural periods, are a living reminder of the church's history. The tower windows have tracery reminiscent of last quarter of the 13th century and also feature square label-stop carving with rosette on hood mould over the windows, a feature which is also found on the internal face of the tower and on the north porch.
The north aisle windows probably date from around 1350 and are early perpendicular in style with panel tracery. The nave arch to the tower has a different form to others in church, while the nave arcade in the building is reminiscent of the medieval period.
The chancel has had several periods of reconstruction, the first of which seems to have been in 1622 or 1662 when the box pews and pulpit were also constructed. The chancel was then rebuilt in 1779. The building was restored in1850 when the floor was raised at the back because of damp issues.
The electric clock in the tower was installed in 1947 as a memorial to those that died in the second world war.. It has a ring of six bells. 5 of them cast by Joseph Smith of Edgbaston in 1713; The 6th, the tenor bell was cast by William Chapman of the Whitechapel Bell Foundry 1781
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The Nave & Chancel
Altar Window
The three light Arts and Crafts East window, by Caroline Townshend, contains an image of St. Nicholas, the central light is a “Salvator Mundi”. The other light has an image of Mary Magdalene, the village previously being owned by Magdalen College Oxford.
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The south east aisle window was installed in 1919 by the village at a cost of £100. And is a First World War memorial, and is dedicated to the memory of
Howard Drinkwater and William Hakesley.
Howard Drinkwater 1896-1918
Howard was the Son of Alfred Drinkwater & Emily Packer
Private 170053 of the Machine Gun Corps Howard was killed in action in France 29th Seotember 1918.
His Sister Ethel Emily Drinkwater 1907-1972 married Joseph Howkins 1905-1989 in January 1926
and was Mother to David Howkins b1938 and Susan Truslove nee Howkins b.1946
William Boyes Hakesley 1891-1918
Was the 2nd Son of George Hakesley 1863-1942 and Elizabeth Boyes 1854-1933
Private 307615 Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 15/52425 Royal Irish Rifles,
William died in action 2nd October 1918 Ypres, Belgium
His Sister Rosa Jane Hakesley 1889-1964 married James W Peak 1898-1973 in January 1921
Their Daughter Christine N Peak 1924-1956 married John Kemp in 1950
and was the Mother of Lesley & Jean Kemp, Main Street
The Arch to the Belfry
Has inner half-round shafts and half-octagon capitals.
In the Tower above, the Church clock was installed in 1947 as a memorial to those that died in the Second World War.
The Font
The red sandstone Font is decorated from the early 13th Century. A cauldron shaped Font with carvings of two men and foilage
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The North aisle has two memorials, the first is to George Watson (d1674). The inscription reads:
In the coast of Guiney George Watson son of Thomas Watson of Willoughby (and one of his Majesstes Captains at sea) departed this life July ye 15 anno D. 1674 aetatis suae 45 and gave to ye poor of Willoughby ye profit of £50 for ever to be distributed as by a decree in Chancery is sett forth.
Death hath contrould a Captain bold
Yet loss of life is gain
Especially when charity For ever doth remaine.
The second memorial is dedicated to
Thomas Clerke (d1687) and his wife (d1669).
Behind the organ is a table tomb dedicated to another Thomas Clerke (d1663).
The tomb is mostly obscured by the organ works.
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Willoughby Charity
The Willoughby charity was founded in 1437 by Margaret Hayward by a grant of land worth £20. In addition the charity was endowed by William Flavell (1496) and John Brooke (1536). This bequests were added to by George Watson (1647) and Bridget Freemantle (1773). By 1812 the income from the charity was £515 a year.