Your local site for information on the Cambridgeshire village of Isleham

HOLD A PIECE OF ISLEHAM HISTORY IN YOUR HAND

The Bernards and the Peytons built our Church. You are

in the year of Our Lord 1495. Three hundred years of

glorious Plantagenet rule came to a violent end just

ten years ago when King Richard III went down fighting at

Bosworth Field. The brutality of battles between the

Red Rose of Lancaster and the White Rose of York are

still fresh in people's minds. We have a new King - the

Lancastrian Duke of Richmond is now King Henry VII and

he has taken to wife Elizabeth of York, daughter of our late

sovereign, Edward IV.

The King's avowed intent is to restore peace and prosperity to our war torn land and to heal old wounds and rivalries. Today, in a climate of increasing prosperity, the succession seems secure for the King has two sons, Arthur and Henry. Little Prince Arthur was betrothed to Catherine of Aragon when he was but two years old and we look forward to rejoicing at their wedding in a couple of years. Our alliance with Spain has made the French think twice about their constant friendship with the Scots and the harassing of our northern border. If the King's offer of his daughter Margaret's hand to James IV of Scotland is accepted, then we should at last have peace on our borders and across the Channel.

Now is a time for us all to give thanks to God. New architectural fashions are coming in - aisles are being built, churches enlarged, chantries and chapels endowed. Here in Isleham Crystofer Peyton has decided to raise the nave roof of our village church, which his Bernard predecessor had founded 160 years earlier.

Local craftsmen have been called in to build the lofty clerestory and carve the tie beams and hammerbeams of the wooden roof as a fitting memorial to his father and brothers and to Crystofer himself. The hammerbeams are to be enriched by sixty angel figures, some carrying the instruments of Our Lord's Passion. The shields of the Peyton family and their wives and mothers -Bernards, Lillings and Mallorys, Cleres, Hydes and Calthorpes

- decorate aisle and clerestory, all supported by little angel figures.

A.D 2001 As we enter the new Millennium many of the larger angels have disappeared, but today's worshippers are still one with angels and archangels and all the company of Heaven" - even if the Heavenly host is somewhat reduced in size ! One small angel head has long surmounted the Peyton and Lilling coat of arms, where tower and south clerestory meet, until damp and woodworm finally overcame the little carving and it fell to the ground. The craftsman who carved it cared not that, once in position forty feet above the floor of the nave, few, if any, would ever see his work close up again, yet eyebrows, nostrils and lips are accurately carved. The head was damaged when it fell but, skilfully restored and repaired by a local artist and woodcarver, a copy was commissioned and cast in resin. In Isleham, lovers of the church have bought copies, as have many descendants of the Peyton family in the United States, Australia and elsewhere.

YOU, TOO, CAN HAVE ONE OF THESE UNIQUE "ANGEL HEADS"

Whether or not you have any family connection with Isleham or the Peyton family, this little head will always remind you of the work of just one of the scores of medieval craftsmen who lavished their skills on the building of England's parish churches and great cathedrals. You have also helped us to finance the maintenance and repairs to our lovely parish church - a heritage which it is our duty to hand on to those who come after us. THANK YOU !

Only some twenty casts can be taken from each mould, so with mould costs, casting and packaging each little head now costs us nearly thirty pounds. Will you help, buying one for a least £40.00 (This IS after all a fundraising endeavour!) For U.S. residents U.S.$75 each to cover bank commission charges for dollar cheque's + U.S. $10 postage for one angel.

Send check made out to KATHLEEN BURROUGHS. PSC 41 Box 6402 APO AE 09464

Contact Ian Powys (details at the end of the page), or go out through the lych gate, turn Left - take the FIRST LEFT down Church Lane.

Number FIVE is one of a group of three houses some fifty metres down the lane on the left hand side - the one with the double garage. Ring the bell and collect your "angel" straight away! If I am out when you call, phone me and you can order by post.

TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF ANGELS CLICK HERE THANK YOU

TO SEE MORE PICTURES OF THE INTERIOR OF ST ANDREWS CLICK HERE THANK YOU

Email: Iian69powys@btinternet.com

Fax: 01638 780519

Thank You & God Bless