LODDINGTON CHURCH VISITS

Family researchers invariably make a beeline for the district church and it’s burial ground as a good starting point in their quest for knowledge of their forbears. Tombstone inscriptions can provide details of ancestors often not available elsewhere.
Thomas and Rose Miles were millers at Loddington Mill from the 1770’s followed by son Joseph and his wife, Ruth after Thomas died in 1784.
The latter couple had 10 children during their time at the mill.
So one autumn day in 2002 I arrived at Loddington Church to see what secrets I could uncover of the Miles family.
A scan of the graveyard revealed three Miles’s and five Broom’s [Ruth’s maiden name] but no sign of Thomas, Joseph or their wives.

The peaceful entrance to Loddington church with the two graves of three members of the Miles family on the far left.

Hoping for better luck, I entered the church. I had visions of finding some reference to the family. Perhaps, a name on a pew, or mention on a church bell roster. With the latter thought in mind I located the ladder and proceeded to climb up to the belfry. On the first landing lay the inevitable dead bat, but also instructions for bell ringers. Up on to the next stage. I found no sign of a carved initial or any clue to previous visitors. I did find the bells, which were impressive at over three cwts. each, one dated 1602 and another 1737. The treble bell was reputedly cast in 1370. They were in a precarious condition with the swinging mechanism rotted badly. So down to the church floor, and here again I found no clues to where the family sat. [I afterwards read that the old box pews were replaced in 1859 with the present seating]. However a few photographs were taken and I sat a while contemplating what life was like 200 odd years ago. It was then that I decided to attend a service at the church in the near future.

So on the first Sunday of February the following year, my wife, Lena and myself made our way again to the church. Lena had agreed to accompany me provided I drove over the field up to the church.

We arrived just as the service was about to begin. Unfortunately the current vicar was preaching elsewhere and a stand-in did the service. We did meet the vicar’s wife and children. There were only a dozen of us.

It was fascinating to see one of the congregation manning the organ pump so we could have an accompaniment for the hymn singing. There is no electricity laid on.

The service concluded, we admired the array of snowdrops outside the church and after a few more photographs we waved goodbye and made our way in the car across the field towards the exit. I had heard that guests at vicar Alec Boyd’s daughter’s wedding got bogged down some while ago, and that more recently Richard Wright had his father’s body conveyed across the field by tractor and though I was ultra careful, the car slid and skidded. Fortunately some of the congregation had lingered and were good enough to assist us with a push to get to the exit, for which we were truly grateful.

Loddington has a beautiful old church and it is sad to see signs of needed repairs. It seems a shame that eventually, because of lack of support it will not be worthwhile opening for the present once a month service, and will fall into ruin.

Ron Miles

Loddington church sketched in 1791