A 18th century Pewter Plate
In this edition George was writing in the
Church Parish Newsletter round about
1964
The Rev. William Barry, M.A., late of Trinity College, Cambridge,
was instituted into the old Tudor rectory standing alongside the church.
He evidently disapproved of this old building, for he built for himself and
for his family a fine new rectory in 1842, and forthwith demolished the
old former building. He also built the stables and coach house, which
have just been demolished in the new road widening scheme. During his
45 years as rector many major alterations took place.
Among his many gifts to the church were three pieces of plate. A
silver paten made in 1845, a silver cup made in 1845, and a silver alms
dish made in 1846, each of these three items bears the words: “Presented
to the Church of Blisworth by the Rector A.D. 1846”. The remaining and
largest piece of church silver is a fine flagon which was made in 1870,
and this flagon bears the text: “Christmas est immollatus nostram
pascha”. The donor of this is not recorded.
The Rev. Barry resigned in April of 1884 but he did not live long
after, for he died on December 10th of the same year and was buried in
Blisworth church-yard, aged 81 years. We also had a collection of
pewter plate up to the coming of the Rev. W. Barry, but in 1843 it is
recorded that this plate “appears to be lost”.
It might interest readers to know the value of the silver plate. At
last year’s [early1960’s] valuation it was £460. [It is not known where
this plate now is - probably in Peterborough Cathedral]
HISTORY