Building Materials
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Cruciform in shape, the plan of the present building was completed by the
end of the fourteenth century and has remained largely unchanged
for the last 600 years.
St. Helen's is built of flint rubble, or Totternhoe clunch, with flint
facings and limestone dressings. There being no stone in the area, it is
thought that the medieval builders used stone from the Midland quarries shipped
down the River Ouse to Bedford and from there conveyed by horse and cart along
the Roman roads to Wheathampstead.
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The Spire
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Crowning the tower rises a splendid "broach" spire constructed of
wood set at a very steep angle on a square base, and rising to a diminishing
octagon. It is clad externally with strips of lead arranged in a herringbone
pattern. The present spire is an 1865 reconstruction of an imagined earlier
medieval version.
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The Tower
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The tower is central and dates from about 1290 when the earlier tower
needed rebuilding as we know from records in Lincoln Cathedral Registry which
tell us of the granting of an indulgence for twenty days to all who contributed
to the cost of the work - an early example of the practice so abhorred by
Luther in later years.
From outside you can see the original corbel table (a row of stone brackets
carrying the plinth) with the Edward I buckle ornament. The bell chamber
windows are modern.
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The Bells
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The inventory of 1548 mentioned four bells in the tower. These must
have been fairly large, as in 1717 they were recast by Richard Phelps of
Whitechapel, with no additional metal, into a ring of six, with a tenor of 17
cwt.
In 1885, the second, fourth and fifth bells were recast (probably
because they had become cracked) by John Warner and Sons of Cripplegate.
By 1936 all the bells and their fittings were deteriorating, and a
decision was taken to have them all recast and rehung in a new timber frame
with all new fittings. This work was entrusted to John Taylor and Co. of
Loughborough. The tenor of the new ring weighed 14¼ cwt., and the bells were
tuned to the key of F major. The dedication of the installation took place in
September 1937.
After some repairs to the tower in 1971, the ring was augmented to
eight with the addition of two trebles, cast by the same foundry in 1974.
The work in the tower of extending the frame and hanging the bells was carried
out by voluntary local labour. The new bells were dedicated in March 1974.
To commemorate the induction of the Rev Tom Purchas an entirely new peal was
devised and rung in September 1980 - The Wheathampstead Surprise Major.
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Thirteenth Century
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An ambitious scheme of restoration was begun during the early part of the
century, the Saxon church having become dilapidated. The energetic Normans
decided to put things to rights by first of all rebuilding and lengthening the
chancel (c.1238). The east window triple lancets date from this time as
do the window and doorway with its dog-tooth decoration on the north side of
the sanctuary.
By 1290 work on the chancel was completed and the crossing was
reached. Money was running out and in order to put up a new tower, the Bishop
of Lincoln, Oliver Sutton, granted an indulgence of twenty days to all
contributors.
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Fourteenth Century
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Much rebuilding and additional work was done in the early part of this
century. Following the rebuilding of the tower, the south aisle of the nave was
added and the south porch in 1350. The west end of the nave was rebuilt
with its fine doorway and arch with ball-flower ornament c. 1320. The
two-light windows at the aisle west end and the octagonal piers with their
moulded capitals and double-hollow-chamfered arches are typical of that date.
The north aisle was added later, the recessed tomb in the north wall
probably being that of a benefactor of this work.
The north transept or Lamer Chapel was rebuilt about 1330-40
with its large five-light traceried window in the north wall and three-light
windows in the east wall. This window has a lowered sill supporting the reredos
of the altar to St. Nicholas that used to stand beneath it. This reredos of
seven canopied niches with leafy crockets and foliage in the spandrels was
found walled up in 1865 and restored then to reveal all the artistry of
its itinerant medieval stonemason who did not quite finish the work. Perhaps he
was carried off by the Black Death which ravaged the country at the time.
Pevsner has described the carving as richer than anything in the county, except
for the east end at St. Albans Abbey. He comments, "Much money must have
been available and an architect with a good sense of display". The Macry
family were the most likely benefactors of this work, their leopard's head
emblem being discernible in the reredos to those sharp-eyed enough to see it.
(The same emblem may be seen on the font, also of early 14th century date.)
The south transept was rebuilt shortly afterwards with its fine east window
showing some original fine feather cusping in its tracery and big fleurons. Its
south window of four lights with net tracery is of the same date as that in the
opposite wall.
In the chancel the lancet windows on the north and south walls were replaced
and enlarged about 1380, and the small low window at the west end of the
south wall of the chancel is of about the same date.
The two-storied vestry on the north-east side of the chancel was also added
about this time. It was thought by one authority to have housed a hermit or
recluse, the upper floor possibly being used as a treasury.
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Later Middle Ages
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The beautiful canopied piscina, or priest's wash basin, to the right of the
high altar is the most noteworthy contribution of this period. Again the Macry
leopard's head is used in the vaulting of the canopy showing this decorated
work to have been the gift of that munificent family.
Finally, the medieval improvements to the church were completed with
the insertion of the easternmost window in the south aisle with its three cinque-foiled lights.
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The Restoration of 1865
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Canon Davys found St. Helen's to be in great decay when he arrived: windows
were walled up some feet above the sills, with badly decayed external tracery;
the south porch had been filled up level with the ground outside and lengthened
to house the fire engine; the north porch had gone altogether, and the only
entrance to the nave was by the west door which was covered by a modern porch
used to store coal and the sexton's tools.
The exterior of the whole church, except the tower, was covered with
plaster, and the decaying buttresses had been mended with brick, slate or
anything else readily available.
Canon Davys aimed to renovate and restore St. Helen's to its original
medieval glory, raising the roofs of nave and chancel to their original pitch,
and the spire to its ancient proportions. Transept roofs were repaired and
decayed window tracery carefully restored. The plaster was stripped from the
outside walls revealing the original flint facing.
Inside, the seating, flooring and ceilings were restored and a Walker organ
installed in the chancel.
"Picture contributed by Rodney D Locks."
(Copy of an old photograph presented to the church by Geoffrey Odell. Dec 1971)
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