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The interior of the Church has changed considerably since it was first
built as there have been several restorations and additions.
For several years after the erection of the Church the east end of the
Chancel was partitioned off and used as a vestry, but in 1862 the
partition was removed and a vestry was built on the south side of the
Chancel. This alteration brought to view the reredos, erected in 1858
at a cost of £43. Executed in Ancaster stone, it bore the Lord's
prayer and Creed in gold upon panels of glass; the Agnus Dei being
carved in the middle.
Interior - about 1880
The present reredos in the church was given by W.G. Player Esquire in
1911. It is executed in mosaic work and green and gold glazed tiles,
and bears the figure of Christ holding the chalice with the Cross in
the background. Four angels surround the feet of Christ, and beneath
are the words:
Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were an offering far too small,
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.
The reredos is surrounded by a marble border on which runs the text
from the Communion Service "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with
the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous, and He is the Propitiation for
our Sins?"
Interior - about 1971
In 1870 the organ, which was first installed in the Church on 23rd
August 1847, and choir stalls were removed from the gallery and
erected in the Chancel. On Thursday, 31st May 1906, the organ was
replaced with a new two-manual instrument containing 26 stops, built
by Brindley & Foster.
The Dedication Service took the form of shortened Evening Prayer and
the sermon was preached by the Reverend Canon Gem, then vicar of
Wirksworth, (at one time Vicar of Old Radford). The collection taken
at the service was distributed among the poor of the Parish.
There was an organ recital of seven items given by
Mr. F.E. Hollingshead, F.R.C.O., A.R.C.M., Organist and Choirmaster of
St. Andrew's Church, Bath. The new organ was the generous gift of
W.G. Player Esquire. Additions and renovation in the form of memorial
gifts have been made to the organ. One, to Frederick Harvey,
Choirmaster and organist for 36 years was a gift of two stops by his
widow in 1950. Another memorial gift by the mother of Marjorie
Frances Foster, who died 29th May 1949, aged 20 years, was a complete
renovation, also in 1950.
After this addition and renovation the organ was officially ,opened,
with an organ recital by Dr. Melville Cooks, Organist of Leeds Parish
Church. The Communion rails are not the original ones, which
stretched straight across the Chancel whereas the present ones are
curved.
In 1911 Mr. Henry Crewdson made a gift of new choir and clergy stalls.
The beautifully carved wooden rood screen was another gift of Mr.
W.G. Player, erected in 1931.
The older parishioners of Lenton will remember the altar with the
beautiful embroidered frontals, many given in memory of loved ones.
Some of these, though a little the worse for wear, are still retained
in the Church.
The last frontal to be donated was to perpetuate the memory of
Catherine Mony, widow of Charles Mony. Both were very active and
generous members of the Church and Charles Mony served in the choir
for 44 years.
We now have a plain wood Holy Table, made of Japanese oak, executed by
the students of Basford College. This was given as a memorial to
Donald F. Wood, many years Churchwarden of this Church. Dedicated in
1974 this was the gift of his widow Mrs. K. Wood who continues to be a
very active member of the Church.
When the present Holy Table was installed the radiator which was fixed
to the wall under the reredos was removed. Also at this time, one of
the three steps leading up to the altar was removed. On the south
side of the Sanctuary is an oak prayer desk, given in memory of
Charles Mony, Chorister 1892 - 1936, on which is a Prayer Book
presented by George Lynch (Churchwarden) in memory of his mother and
father in June 1935. On the north side is a similar desk, on which is
the inscription:
LAUS DEO
DO NAVIT
H.A.F. CREWDSON
MCMXXXV
The Prayer Book on this desk is given in memory of Albert Martin, by
his wife in April 1938. There are two books of the Service of Holy
Communion, one each side of the Holy Table, standing on brass book
rests. One "In memory of Maria M. Scholefield, died 14th July
1966?. The other inscribed 'To the Glory of God. This Service Book
was presented by Mrs. M.L. Johnson. 1966".
Also in the sanctuary are three oak chairs and each side of the Holy
Table are banners, one for the Mothers? Union and the other, a hand
embroidered one showing the Parish church, for the Sunday Schools,
executed by Miss E. Carey.
A Prayer Desk was given to the Church by the 47th (Lenton) Troop Boy
Scouts and Cubs to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their formation
in 1917.
The blue kneeling mats at the Communion Rail were a gift of Miss
A.M. Hillery, in memory of her mother and father. The kneelers each
side of the Holy Table were re-covered at the same time in the same
material. Bob Hillery was the leading tenor in the Lenton Choir for
many years.
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