Upper Itchen Benefice
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St Simon and St JudeSt Simon and St Jude is listed Grade II and can seat about 100 persons. The church has a small bell tower containing two recently refurbished bells. It was built in the 12th century. St Simon and St Jude has a number of stained glass windows and also the ‘Tree of Life’ and ‘Village Collage’ tapestries. Bramdean is a small but historic parish almost encircled by the larger parish of Hinton Ampner. Until the late 15th century it was known as Bromdene. The chancel and nave lancet together with the bell tower of wood formed the medieval church (c. 1170). The structure of the walls was mainly flint rubble with stone dressing to the windows, while the walls are rendered with a variety of mixes. Thomas Durnford in the 18th century, rector for 51 years from 1741 to 1792, wrote that he 'found the church little changed since Giles the Englishman began his ministry in 1289'. Giles was the first recorded rector |
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| The InteriorThe chancel arch has 'two orders with capitals still decidedly Norman and a pointed arch with slight chamfers' (Pevsner). The entrance doorway and chancel arch were part of the mediaeval church. The door is old, being made of two thicknesses of board with strap hinges and a wooden lock case. The roof of the nave is a very old trussed rafter construction. The three windows to St Matthew and St Mark, on the north, and St Luke, on the south, are dedicated to the memory of the Revd William Gomm, who died after being rector for 38 years, and were placed there in 1863 by General Sir William Gomm. The altar table is early 17th century, and is the earliest furnishing in the church. Probably the oldest monument existing in the church is a small brass plate on the south choir stalls which, when translated, reads: 'Here lies Maria Travers who died on the 17th May 1693 . The choir stalls are dated 1911. The credence table on the north side of the sanctuary was made from parts of the 17th century altar rails which were removed during the Victorian restoration. The present communion rails were installed in 1894 in memory of Louisa Bishop, wife of the Revd A.C. Bishop, rector 1866-1885. |
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The Pulpit, Windows, Font and Bells The pulpit was replaced in 1972 by a carved oak 'linenfold' pulpit which came from the redundant church of St Barnabas , Silverton. The font, high Victorian with symetrical still-leaf motifs, is a copy of a 13th century style. Of the windows, the large lower west window is 15th century. The stained glass was damaged by bombing in the second world war and replaced by plain glass in 1949. The two other windows in the north wall, near the pulpit are dedicated to Honora Legge (1861) and Field Marshall Sir William Gomm (1875). The bell tower is carried on the west wall and on a wooden beam spanning the nave. There are two bells, without any inscription, date or weight. Although it is believed that the tower was part of the original 12th century church, it has been rebuilt at least twice. |
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The lectern, in American white oak, was given to the church in January 1990 by the rector, Humphrey Llewellyn, in memory of his wife Margaret. The relief carved roundels in the base include her initials and symbolic emblems. It was made by a Bramdean craftsman and Reader in the benefice, Bruce Newson. A New International Version of the bible rests on the lectern in memory of Humphrey Llewellyn who died in 1991. |
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The South Transept and Organ
The south transept was added to the church in about 1877, though two older tablets dated 1857 and 1863 are on its west wall, having been moved from the original nave. The walls are dressed with knapped flint on the outside with quoins of stone dressing to the windows. A list of benefactors between 1675 and 1766 is hung here. There are also two historic pictures of the church before the alterations were made, and also a list of parishioners who died in the two world wars. The actual War Memorial stands on the side of the A272 road twoards Hinton Ampner. A new lighting system was installed throughout the church in 2007, and are able to create a variety of 'effects'. The vestry was built at the same time as the transept. It was formerly the organ chamber, and the show pipes have been retained. The church now uses a modern Allen electronic organ. |
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