STOURTON and GASPER HISTORY

ST. PETER'S CHURCH

‘You were always expected to go to Church and because we didn’t use the (Hoare) family pew any more – we used the front pew on the right-hand side. Mrs. Hollis tended to be behind us. The Bullivants a bit further back on the left-hand side. The Trusslers were on the other side too. There was a little sort of hierarchy in a way. And you had to wear your smart clothes …’ Edward Hoare

Pew allocation early 18^th century. See full text

St. Peter's early 19^th century painting.

Stourton Tomb early 19^th century painting.

Approach from the East late 19^th century.

The Bell Tower

Church Picnic (Mere Museum).

Date unknown

‘I must tell you the most wonderful story. Do you remember Asgartha Vincent, the kennel maid? At her christening, there were her parents, and the vicar said to the mother “How do you name this child?” And she said “Ask Arthur” and she was christened ASGARTHA Vincent …’ Audrey Hoare

Broadcast Evensong

1950's ?

‘Mrs. Williams used to be very much in charge of helping decorate the Church for Christmas, Easter, et cetera and me being a very new recruit had to mind my Ps and Qs and do exactly as I was told…’ Elizabeth Bullivant

‘(Stourton) Church wasn’t the centre of life at all. Don’t know why it went wrong but we used to have little fracas about who did what. Mrs. ‘X’ would always do the flowers at Easter and if you touched the altar, oh my gosh…’ Hazel Pickford

‘It was her special thing, Mrs. Williams always did the lectern. And one day, quite suddenly, she said to me, “I’m not going to do the lectern from now on.” And, according to what she told me to do, I was left to do it and still am doing it now…’ Elizabeth Bullivant

Church Flower Gala 1987

Kneelers Project 1995. Read more...