“Opening of Nash Church”, Bicester Advertiser 21st February 1862 (from Bucks Chronicle).
The new Church at Nash was opened for Divine service on Saturday, the 8th inst., by the Lord Bishop of Oxford, amid the very general rejoicing of the neighbourhood. This church was commenced some years ago, but, in consequences of scarcity of funds and other untoward circumstances, when the church had been built the work was stopped, and no further progress was made in the matter until June, in last year, when a new rector, The Rev. R. Hope Hooper, having been presented to this living of Thornton-cum-Nash, he immediately set to work to collect funds, and, finding himself tolerably successful in his canvass, soon started the work afresh. When the Church of Nash was first projected, the Hon. Rd. Cavendish, of Thornton Hall, the patron of the living, gave the land for the church and schools, and £1,250 towards their erection. A large portion of that sum was at once expended on the school rooms and mistress’ house: the remained was spent in building a chancel and church yard wall. When these were finished, the money was found to be finished too, and as no more was forthcoming just then, the chancel was boarded up, and Divine service has been celebrated in the schoolroom up to the present times. The building was recommenced in the middle of July 1861, and as far as the edifice was concerned, everything was in readiness for the opening of the church by the end of December, so that no time can have been lost in the matter. A large number of the diocese were present on the occasion, the whole of the chancel being filled with them, all wearing their white surplices, and the body of the church crowded with the parishioners, and many of the nobility and gentry of the neighbourhood. The service was conducted by the rector – the first lesson being read by the Rev. F. R. Perry, incumbent of Cadmore, and the second by the Rev. Simon T. Adams, Rector of Great Horwood, and rural dean. The sermon was preached by the bishop, from our Lord’s miracle of healing the withered hand – “And he said unto the man, stretch forth thy hand, and he did so, and his hand was restored whole as the other.” If it were possible to give a report of the sermon, it would, even without the accompaniments of his lordship’s wonderful voice and manner, be most striking, but aided by them, it was marvellously impressive. The whole congregation seemed spell-bound, and, on looking down the church, rows of upturned faces were to be seen, gazing intently at the orator, as the deep, rich tones of his voice rolled through the building like the tones of some perfect instrument struck by a master-hand, at one moment reminding us of Mendelsohn’s sweetest “songs”, and at the next bringing back to our memories the sounds of our noblest works of “the grand old masters whose distant footsteps echo through the corridors of time.” After the sermon, the Holy Communion was celebrated, the Bishop officiating, assisted by the Ven. Archdeacons Clarke and Dickersteth, and the rector. A dinner had been provided in the excellent school-room at Nash, for the poor of the parish (being householders) at which the rector presided. The Lord Bishop having said grace, and delivered a few kindly words to them left for Thornton Hall, the seat of the Hon. R. Cavendish, where an elegant luncheon was provided for the visitors. The dinner in the schoolroom was in the meantime proceeded with, and ample justice was done to the viands by the good men of Nash. When they had satisfied their appetites and charged their glasses, Mr. Henry French, one of the principal farmers of the village, in a most suitable and feeling manner, proposed the health of the Rev. R. Hope Hooper, who briefly returned thanks, saying that he hoped, now that the church was completed, that the good people of Nash would look upon it as their church and not his, and that they would diligently use it. He then proposed the health of Rev. R. N. Russell, the worthy rural dean. Mr Russell in returning thanks for the honour done to him, said – “A year ago I was asked by the Bishop to undertake this business. I then said that if everyone would put their shoulder to the wheel the church would at last be built. Everyone has done so, and now we see the results.” The evening passed off most cheerily and satisfactorily. On Sunday, the 9th inst., the Lord Bishop held a confirmation in the pew church, when it was even more crowded than on the previous day. The women and children were regaled with tea and cakes on Monday, in commemoration of the opening of the church. The east window has been filled with stained glass, which, with the scroll over the communion-table, and the tablet for the commandments and creed, were designed by Mr. J. G. Howe.