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War Memorials |
AVETON GIFFORD - St. ANDREW'S CHURCH |
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St. Andrew's Church, Aveton Gifford, as it is today
©Richard J. Brine |
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Just as everyone was putting on the kettle for tea on January 26th 1943, a pack of marauding German bomber planes descended on the village. They dropped bombs and strafed the village with gunfire.
Only a tiny number of houses in Aveton Gifford escaped damage; a child was killed and at least 20 people were injured, some seriously.
As the villagers pulled themselves together and looked about them, they saw, with horror, that their beautiful medieval church had received a direct hit as had the adjoining rectory. |
St. Andrew's Church, Aveton Gifford in the early 1900s
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The original Rectory at Aveton Gifford
Totally destroyed by a direct hit on 26 January 1943 |
Very little remained except for part of the shell of the church. Priceless medieval features, the tower, the organ, memorial tablets, had all gone in a moment. The octagonal font, however, survived undamaged and is still in use with a richly-coloured replacement window behind. |
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The changes made to the ground plan of the original church during the re-build can be seen from the exterior. Originally, the Chancel had aisles on either side, one being a little chapel dating from the 13th century - these were not replaced. The replacement tower had to be rebuilt and reduced in height in 1970 - the original held a fine peal of 8 bells.
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The font
St. Andrew's Church, Aveton Gifford
©Richard J. Brine |
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