St Johns Church, Farley Chamberlayne

St John's Church, Farley Chamberlayne stands in one of the most lovely parts of Hampshire. Surrounded by farmland, it has views that stretch south over the Downs towards the Isle of Wight. which actually becomes visible on a clear day.

The present church is of Norman foundation, and was probably built between 1130 and 1160. However, there may well have been an earlier Saxon place of worship on the same site, as the entry in Domesday Book makes it clear that there was a settlement at Farley in Anglo-Saxon days.

The nave of the church is Norman, with a chancel of later date. The fine king-post oak roof contains most of its original timbers.

The Norman arch over the south door, with its strange carved terminals can be dated not later than 1160. Traces of a mass dial and a consecration cross may be found on its pillars.

The Windows - Note a small early English trevoil window, with a characteristic hood-mold. Otherwise all the windows are more modern insertions, probably 18th century, in place of the original Norman ones.

The Altar Rails are Jacobean, as is also the screen which separates the small vestry from the body of the church, and the tester on the pulpit. The pulpit, prayer desk, lectern and the oak panelling inside the altar rails were all special gifts made on the restoration of the Church in 1910. Before this date the church had deal "sheep pen" pews, and a gallery at the west end.

The tomb of William St John

The monuments in the church present an interesting story in themselves. The tomb under the  canopy is that of William St John, who was born at Farley in 1538, and buried there in 1609. His descent can be traced through successive Lords sof the Manor, as far back as the reign of  Edward III, when the property had changed hands. One of his most interesting ancestors was Sir John St John, who was knighted by his cousin Henry VII in 1487, for having brought forces
to the King's aid in the Lambert Simnel rebellion. He was later made Chamberlain to Margaret, Countess of Richmond, the King's mother, and was named in her will as one of her executors. Sir John was related to Henry through his grandmother, who married first Oliver St John, and after his death John Beaufort Duke of Somerset. Their daughter was Margaret, mother of Henry VII.
This link with the Tudor dynasty is commemorated on one of the black marble tombstones in the chancel, which bears the name of Oliver St John who died in 1689.

The St John family were Lords of the Manor for nearly two hundred years, and their manor  house, all trace of which has vanished, stood on the ground to the north of the church. It was probably built between 1524 and 1538. The manor house sheltered succeeding generations till the property passed to the distaff side on the death of the last male St John in 1699. His heirs, however, added the name of St John to their own of Midmay, and held the property until eventually it was sold to the Heathcote family of Hursley, and the old manor house was pulled
down early in the 19th century.

There are several St John tombstones on the floor of the sanctuary, beneath which lies the family  vault. There is also a pathetic monument on the wall, which records the untimely death of a young couple and their new born babe, all of whom "changes this life for a better" within the space of twelve months 1627/8. The basket-work crib is worthy of note. Here lyeth the body of Oliver St John Esq Descended From Sr Oliver St John & Margaret Beauchamp of Bletsoe in Bedford Shire who ws Granmother to Henry The 7th King of England He Dyed ye 26th day of Augst And Dni 1689 In ye 48th year of his age

The two hatchments at the end of the church are of a later date, but they both belong to the St John family. That with the chevron ermine and the two hedgehogs is of Jane, last wife of Sir Paulet St John (1703 -1780) while the other is that of Sir Paulet St John (2nd baronet) who died in 1784 aged 44.

In the vestry may be seen the remains of stocks, which formerly stood outside the church, and  also a cresset beacon which may possibly date from the reign of Edward III. It was certainly used at the time of the Armada.

There is a roof tile, not on show, inscribed "Aprill ye 16 1400" which was found when the church was restored.

There are three bells, one of medieval date with a Gothic inscription, a treble bell which is late fifteenth century while the last is dated 1603. The first two must have rung in the general rejoicing at the defeat of the Armada.

The Registers begin in 1593 (Baptisms)a, 1612 ( Burials) and 1645 (Marriages). There is a Churchwardens' Book which begins in 1770.

The Church Plate consists of a silver chalice inscribed "Farley 1672", a large silver paten inscribed "Ex domo Robert London Armigeri", given about 1696, and a pewter flagon and plate inscribed "Farley 1831".

The nave showing the oak roof timbers		One of the gas lamps in the church
Weather vane in the vesry		The canopied pulpit
Sacred to the Memory of Thrift Wife of James Wmith, Farley. and youngest daughter of John Hedderick Esq Plebohole Fifeshire North Britain, Who departed this life the 2nd of January 1815, aged 27 years		In memory of Hugh Prior, the beloved son of The Rev W.H., and Jane Woodham of this parish Who died at Albany W. Australia, on his return from Service in S.Africa with the S.A/ Imperial Bushmen July 22nd 1501 aged 23 years
The Pretty memorial		The new font which commemorates the millenium walk from Winchester to Canterbury
The Royal Coat of Arms above the vestry door