[From Annals of Kirk Christ Lezayre]

CHAPTER VIII - THE NEW CHURCH

The New Church of Lezayre, in 1841

Preliminary Steps

(Almost all the information contained, in this section is taken from papers in the Diocesan Registry in Athol Street, Douglas. The Vestry Book, which begins in 1821, contains little save the annual levying of cess and disbursement.)

A PUBLIC meeting of the principal landowners was held in the Parish Church on December 3oth, 1829, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the propriety and necessity of erecting a new church . . . upon such plan as may be hereafter agreed upon-Resolved that the Lord Bishop be solicited to issue his Authority to summon a jury of four competent men to view and report the state and condition of the sd. church. And we, whose names are hereunder subscribed, respectfully request his Lordship to issue such authority to the proper officer accordingly. Henry Maddrell, Vicar Wm. Farrant

J. McWhannell J. Christian

Thomas A. Corlett for himself and J. Corlett, his father Wm. Kelly, Warden Ewan Clark

John Corlett, junr. Danl. Christian." The Bishop issued the Authority on the next day.

" In pursuance of the foregoing request We do hereby order the Sumner-General forewith to convene and swear on the Premises a jury of four competent men-namely two masons and two carpenters-to view the state and condition of the present Parochial Church of Kirk Christ, Lezayre, and to report and return to Us in writing their verdict on the same....

W. Sodor & Man." The report of the jury was as follows :

" We whose names are hereunder subscribed, being a jury consisting of two House Carpenters & two Masons, selected and sworn by Daniel Christian Esqr. Sumner-General, for the purpose of viewing the state & condition of the present Parochial Church of Kirk Christ, Lezayre, pursuant to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop's order to that effect, granted at Bishop's Court & dated the 31st day of December, 1829, & to report & return the same in writing.

In compliance with the said authority We this day appeared upon the Premises and carefully viewed & examined the Exterior & Interior of the said Church, and find that the South wall of the said Church, about the middle thereof, overhangs or projects into the Church about two inches and one half, and that the North wall overhangs or projects out about two inches and one half. Having also viewed and examined the roof of the said Church we find that the Principals and Purlins are rotten in the walls & in many other places insufficient. The Rafters, Laths & Slating are also in a state of decay. With respect to the interior of the said building We find the floors and several parts of Seats or Pews rather out of repair. Having likewise examined the Chancel of the said Church we consider the Roof, etc. to be nearly in the same state as the body of the same.

In consideration of the foregoing survey & more particularly of the North Wall overhanging and leaving the Principals about 22 inches, and also the decayed state of the said Principals in the walls, and of the ether circumstances herein before stated We are unanimously of opinion that the said Church is in an insufficient state.

And this we give as our Report and Verdict in the premises This 5th. day of January the year one thousand eight hundred and thirty (5th. Jany. 1830).

John Quiggin, Carpenter James Callow, Carpenter

William Callow, Mason John Looney, Mason."

On January 18th the Bishop ordered that the Verdict and accompanying documents should be recorded in his Registry. The bill of the jury was £1 1os. od., with 2s. 6d. paid to the Clerk for drawing up the report, etc.

A Vestry meeting was held in the Parish Church on March 26th " in order to take into consideration the necessity and propriety of erecting a new church . . . '

" Whereas Wm. Farrant Esq. has handsomely come forward and proposed to give the Parish a grant of land in the field opposite Mrs Casement's house to erect the sd. Church on, provided the plan of the sd. Church meets his approbation and that a better or more eligible place cannot be secured:

" Resolved therefore that a new Church be erected and an assessment levied, provided that such assessment shall not exceed the sum of Ten Pounds the Quarterland with Intacks in proportion, And that the present Committee be authorized and empowered to procure and prepare plans of the sd. Church, and an estimate of the expenses which will be incurred in erecting and completely furnishing the same. And the sd Committee are hereby authorized to enquire and ascertain what grant can be procured from Government, the Lord Bishop, and others by way of subscription towards the building of the sd Church, in order to enable the Parishioners to judge of the extent of Assessment which may be requisite to be levied on the Parish for the purpose aforesd, and the better to enable them to make further arrangements prior to entering into any contract for the building of the sd Church, and in the mean time this Vestry is adjourned to another day."

This resolution is signed by

Henry Maddrell, Robert Gill John Caley

Vicar of Lezayre W. L. Harrison Thos. Killip

J. Christian John Garrett, his Ewan Kneen

Wm. Farrant X mark Thomas Kinread

L. McWhannell Thomas Ar. Corlett Philip Cowley

John Corlett James Cain James Gill

Evan Clark John Cleator Hugh Joughin,

William Kelly John Teare junr. Parish Clerk. John Casement

The Vestry met again on December 6th and came to the following decision

" Whereas a jury of competent persons namely two Masons and two House Carpenters have on their oath reported that the Parish Church is in such a dilapidated state that it is unsafe for the purpose of performing Divine Service-It is therefore resolved to erect a new Church on a more commodious plan and better adapted for the worship of Almighty God. That it be built of sufficient height to admit of Galleries, shd the same at any future time be deemed requisite. That it shall in the first instance be sufficiently large to contain seven hundred and twenty four persons and that the whole edifice be completed according to the Plan exhibited in this meeting by Mr. Welsh, marked A and so certified.

" Resolved that this Act of Vestry is passed on the express understanding that the Assessment to be levied on the Parishioners for the purpose of completing the sd new Church is not to exceed Ten Pounds (British?) the Quarterland and Mills, Intacks, Cottages and Abbey Lands in proportion. Mr. Welsh having come forward in Vestry and proposed to contract for the completion of the sd Church on the Parishioners paying at the rate aforesd and taking upon himself under the sanction of the Lord Bishop to make up the deficiency out of what Government may grant for the Chancel and what may be otherwise raised.

" Resolved that a Pew be attached to each Quarterland, and that Proprietors of Mills, Cottages and Intacks, as well as Abbey Lands paying an average rent to a Quarterland, be also entitled to a Seat or Pew.

" Resolved that a Committee be appointed in order to enter into the Contract with Mr. Welsh, to superintend the work and generally to arrange and manage all matters connected with the building. And it is agreed on that the sd Committee shall consist of seven Parishioners, namely the Honble Deemster Christian, John Corlett junr of the Kella, Thos. Kneale of Ballacowle, John Casement of Church Town, and Ewan Clark of Aust, Thomas A. Corlett and Wm. Kelly, the majority of whom shall have power to act on all occasions.

" Resolved that the Intack holders, Mill holders, and Cottage holders, paying thirty shillings rent, shall be considered and assessed in all respects equal to a Quarterland holder, and persons paying a small Intack, Mill, or Cottage rent in proportion to the rent paid.

" Resolved that the contract be entered into and all other necessary steps, requisite to complete the object in view, be taken as soon as possible, and also that the Legislature be requested to pass an Act of Tynwald in order to sanction the design of this meeting."

The resolution was carried nemine contradicente.

Mr John Welch (for so the name should be spelled) published, in 1836, a book entitled " A Six Days Tour through the Isle of Man ; or, A passing View of its Present Natural, Social and Political Aspect." By a Stranger. In Mr. W. Cubbon's Bibliography of the Isle of Man, Vol. I, p. 584, it is stated that " The author, who was an eminent architect, dedicated the book to Sir William Hillary. The full-page plates are of exceptional interest, two of which at least-Peel Bay and Bishopscourt-are from drawings by the author.... A number of public buildings, including King William's College, the Smelt Memorial in Castletown and the Tower of Refuge, were designed by the author. He also designed several churches." He also published a print of Lezayre Church, from the north-east, size 11 Inches by 7½ inches. Mr. Welch never learned to spell the name " Lezayre." Both in his book and on the print, it is spelled " Leyzare."

The land on which an Assessment could be levied being reckoned as equivalent to 74¾ Quarterlands ; the sum raised was £747 10s. 0d. Later a further assessment of £2 0S. 0d. was made.

Welch was paid only £680 0s. 0d. Presumably the balance was expended on pulling down the old church and building a wall around the new one. I have not been able to ascertain what amount the Government paid for the Chancel, nor what the Bishop gave out of the large sum which he collected for church building. Soon after the church was finished a gallery was required-not because there was not sufficient room for the congregation, but because there was not space to supply 75 Quarterland seats and a few free ones in addition. But there was no money available, so they adopted a strange expedient. They sold plots of land in the Chancel on which the purchasers could erect private pews, in addition to their Quarterland seats. Receipts for some of the payments are still preserved in the Diocesan Registry. Here is a typical one.

" Received from Mr. Michael Cowley the sum of £12. 10. 0. British, being the valuation placed on the pew sold him in the Parish Church of Lezayre (and of which pew he has taken possession) at the North side of the said Church, and which pew, as well as others, was disposed of for the purpose of raising funds to erect a new gallery in the said Church,-and I do therefore hereby transfer and grant the said pew to the said Michael Cowley and his heirs for ever. June 17th, 1836.

W. Sodor and Mann."

About a dozen pew spaces were thus sold. In every case the families have died out or moved away and the pews were removed at the alterations made in 1927 and 1938- In the case of Michael Cowley the right to the pew was sold along with the house. This-Elm Bank-is now the property of the Vicar and Wardens under the will of the late Clerk-Mr. W. K. Lace.

To digress for a moment, this Michael Cowley was guilty of a great act of vandalism. Before this time the village cross stood upon a vacant piece of ground near the churchyard gate. It was the custom for funeral parties to march round it before entering the churchyard. The old Lezayre Fair was held near it. Cowley bought the adjoining land, and then claimed that the site of the cross was included in his purchase. There was a protracted lawsuit, which finally went before the House of Keys in 1834. Cowley won his case. That was the end of the cross. It was broken up. The head was rescued and is preserved in the church porch. (An illustration is in Mr. P. M. C. Kermode's Manx Crosses.)

A large pew was assigned to Mr. Wm. Farrant in the south-east corner, in return for his gift of the site. This is still occupied by his descendants. The corresponding pew on the north side was granted to Deemster Christian of Milmown, who had contributed £50 towards the cost of erecting the church. This pew was returned to the Vicar and Wardens by the late Mrs. Christian, and its site is occupied by the new organ.

On July 11th, 1835, the Vicar, Wardens and parishioners asked the Bishop to consecrate the church. The Act of Consecration is dated July 14th.

Once the church was finished, the pews had to be allotted. This was not done until 1838.

" At a meeting of the Churchwardens and their Assistants or Sidesmen of the Parish of Lezayre held on the 21st day of March, x838, they make the following Regulation of the Pews or Seats in the Nave or Body and Gallery of the new Church in the Parish of Lezayre, pursuant to two Acts of Vestry made in the old Church in said Parish, one on the 26th. day of March, and the other on the 6th of December, 1830, for the purpose of taking into consideration the state and condition of the old Church, it appeared that the sd old Church was then in a ruinous state and condition and that it was expedient that a new Church on a more commodious plan should be erected in place thereof. The said new Church to be of sufficient dimension to afford one Pew for each Quarterland, and also a Pew to each and every Thirty Shillings Manx of Intack and Mill Rents within the said Parish and this to be the Standing Regulation of all the Quarterlands, Intacks, and Mills, within the said Parish of Lezayre for the future.

It was a simple matter to allot the pews to the Quarterlands, but it must have taken a long time to arrange the Intacks in parcels each of thirty shillings each of Lord's Rent. Still they did their work with meticulous care. In three cases only did they fail to allot exactly thirty shillings to a pew, viz :-the third seat on the south of the gallery- £1 10s. 52/3d., the second pew on the north side of the gallery-£1 10s 0¼d. and the fifth pew in the middle, for which a sum of only 17s. 8d. remained.

Here follows an example of their work-it is the fourth pew on the north side of the gallery. (The figures on the left are the Intack numbers and those on the right the annual amount of Lord's Rent charged on that parcel of land.)

" 8 Thos. Vondy, a parcel in the mountains ...............
160 do. part of Firmoss .............................. 24
17, do. a past of Claddagh north side of Ramsey Burn ........................................... 01 199
do. part of Close Horn ........................... 541
1. 312

148 John Taggart, a parcel of land near Gob Rhein Traie .......................................... 1. 5
218 do. in the Mooragh .............................. 2
219 do. do. .............................. 2
220 do. do. .......................... 2
248 do. a part of Rheast Moar ..................... IA

2. 02'

147 Shipyard Owners, several parcels at Gob Rhein

Trale .......................................... 2. 2 147 Ann Moore, do. ................................. 0 j 118 Maughold Rental, Chas. Moore, a parcel in the

Highway from Ramsey to Bride ...... 2j 136 John Corlett (Phil Broughjirg) Mona Vocky & Rheast Voar ............................. 6

2q8 do. part of Rheast Moar ........................ 11

37 Ballaugh Rental, do. part of Close Clarke 3

124 John Corlett, (Officer) a parcel near Ballie meadow 921

136 do. Narrow & Laughan ........................ 1121 1. 9

126 Thos. Gawne Esq., Ballie's meadow & another

parcel ....................................... 2. o 1:]1 Isabella Quayle, (Ramser Bridge) part of the

Claddagh North Side of Ramsey Burn 3

251 Danl. Mylrea, part of two parcels near Baldroma... 1. o

251 do. do. 8 1. 8 128 Thos. Lee, as Trustee in Mona Vocky .................. 9

124 Danl. Christian, (Ballure) part of Ballie Intack ... 3. 6,1

125 do. do. 1 145 do. for the Pinfold Croft ........................ 1 146 do. for Myer's Croft and a parcel at

Ballachrink ................................. 5 4. 12 124 Caesar Moore, part of Ballie Intacks 52

139 do. part of the over Close ........................ 2. 12 2.

133 Jane Cowle (widow) Ramsey, part of Ann's Croft ... 42

134 do. do. IZ

140 do. an Intack at Ballachrink ..................

160 do. part of Firmoss .............................. 24 1. 32 128 Wm. Joughin (Bride) for the Curragh Beg ............ 4 128 John Kneen (Square) in Silver Lane and a parcel

joining Mona Vockey ..................... 4

157 John Criggal (Lagaugh) a parcel ........................... 3

16o do. a parcel of Firmoss ........................... 2. 22 229 do, Christian Bane's Croft ........................ 32 2. 9

81 Judy Clarke, a part of Kerrow Moar Curragh......... 1o

141 do. part of Edmond's Close ..................... 3

236 do. do. 3 I. 4 141 Peter Clarke do. 3

236 do. do. 3 6 57 John Kneale, (Ballabeg north of Guilcagh) partof Kewney's Croft ........................ 3

208 Jno. Gawne (Bride), part of Close ne Lheaney ...... 3

216 Wm. Monier, Little Gate and Penny Nook ............ 12 1. 10. o

So the new church was built, but the committee does not seem to have taken much care about its equipment, etc. The Visitation of 1835 stated that the fabric and furniture are good, both Bibles new, English Prayer Books, one tolerable and one very bad, Linen Napkins, etc., extremely bad-and that in the year the church was consecrated.

There are some who objected to the building of a new church, as the following extract from a letter to " The Manx Sun " of June and, 1830, shews.

" I would further observe that the unnecessary pulling down of our Parish Churches (most of which, if they were properly repaired, are sufficiently commodious) is a very oppressive tax upon the parishioners, as well as a serious drain upon the aforesaid Fund. I more particularly notice this from my having lately been informed that a new Church is contemplated for Lezayre in addition to those already begun in Ballaugh and Lonan. From what I can learn the present Church of Kirk Christ Lezayre is such as is suitable for the Parish, and will afford room for a larger congregation than it is probable will ever assemble there. From my own knowledge I can say that I have never known it (even when best attended) more than two-thirds full. The building of a new Church I understand to be the wish of but three or four individuals the majority of whom have become residents in that parish very recently. Therefore anything further than the proper repairs (which I believe the roof at present much requires) or a new roof and steeple, will be a needless waste of money, and quite an unnecessary tax upon the landed proprietors of that parish, who must be assessed to a considerable amount for that purpose.

The site upon which the present church stands is decidedly the most beautiful in this Island, and if the rage for Church building should unfortunately so far prevail as to cause the removal of this Church from its present delightful situation, I can only say that it will not be for a better, nor is it the wish of the Parishioners in general.

June 2nd. 1830. Observer."

It had been much better if the Bishop and his supporters had paid more heed to " Observer's " advice. Within four years St. Stephen's Church was built in Sulby in the west of the Parish. and in 1862 St. Olave's in the east. The rural population was decreasing rapidly, and so we are left with a huge church in the most thinly populated district. The seating accommodation is sufficient to give two seats to every man, woman and child in the district.

During the incumbency of the Rev. W. B. Christian the threedecker pulpit was removed.

In 1853 a stained glass window of three lights was placed in the Chancel in memory of Deemster John Christian, of Milntown, who died in 1852 and Susanna, his wife, who died in 1853.

The design is geometrical, but the colouring is not unpleasant. In 1884 a window of more than ordinary interest was placed in the north side. The inscription states that it was erected by Daniel Cottier, Glasspainter, in 1884, in memory of his grandfather, Daniel Cottier, died 1803 ; and of his father, Daniel Cottier, died 1847. The window consists of two lancets, each containing four panels, surrounded by a conventional pattern. The panels represent-reading from top to bottom-on the west, Industria, Temperantia, Caritas, Veritas ; on the east, Modestia, Patientia, Fortitudo, Castitas. The colouring is rich and good. Daniel Cottier belonged to a Lezayre family (his grandfather was buried here on July 12th, 1803). He is the only Manxman, as far as it is known, who attained eminence as a glasspainter.1

Footnotes

1 From Mr. W. Cubbon's article in the Manx Museum Journal, Sept., 1938, which gives an account of his life. and work.