HADFAS Harpenden Area Decorative

The more you know, the more you see. That is true of the insides of churches. We all notice the large colourful windows but what about those tiles in the Chancel? Are they really hundreds of years old?

Recorders note metalwork (chalices, plates and so on as well as crosses), the memorials, the windows, the stonework, the woodwork, the paintings, the bells, the organ as well as the more curious things like graffiti or the mundane items such as electrical and sound equipment. If it’s there, we record it!

The local group, drawn from both HADFAS and HEDFAS, has recently finished recording St Peter's at Ayot St Peter. This is an Arts & Crafts church, consecrated in 1875, with an unusual ceramic chancel arch and many other fascinating features. One highlight of the recording was the discovery of some of the stained glass panels from the earlier church stored under the floor of the nave. This church took us about two and a half years to complete but was very unusual and interesting.

We have recruited some new members and are now working at St Mary's The Virgin, Kenworth. This is a completely different style of church, being of 12th century in origin, with a wide Norman chancel arch as well as Norman doorways and windows. It was built near the junction of an ancient, pre Roman, road and a Roman chariot track and is now a distance away from the main village.

As much as possible is photographed or drawn so that the record of what the church had is permanent. Copies of the records are available to be seen at the Hertfordshire Archive and Local Studies Centre in County Hall Hertford (previously known as the County Records Office!) as well as those held by the various parishes.