Church Brasses

John Sleford was a “King’s Clerk” – a man in Holy Orders but primarily a Civil Servant. He began his career in the household of Philippa of Hainault (Queen to King Edward Ill) and on the merger of her household with that of the King he was transferred to the Wardrobe Administration or ‘Supplies Department’ of the Crown. He became Keeper of the Privy Wardrobe of the Tower in 1365 (this department dealt with small and valuable objects, including arms, canons and gunpowder), and Keeper also of the Great Wardrobe, which dealt with bulk supplies, in 1371. In both these offices he succeeded Henry Snaith, whom he also followed as Rector of Balsham. He probably took his name from the town of Sleford, Lincs; there is also mention of (a brother ?) William Sleford, in the royal service as a Clerk of Works and Dean of the King’s Free Chapel of S. Stephen, Westminster. King’s Clerks had limited basic salaries, augmented by Fees of Office and supplemented by ecclesiastical income drawn from various appointments obtained for them by Royal pressure upon the Bishops.

This is how John Sleford became Rector of Balsham in the mid-1360s and the Public Records reveal his many appointments. Such King’s Clerks were seldom in their parishes, where pastoral work was carried out by substitutes, but in the case of John Sleford there is evidence of his local activity from before the time he lost his office as Keeper of the Wardrobe, as well as from afterwards. He held the lease of Oxcroft Farm in the 1370s, he had land at Linton. His Brass records that he “built the church” and gave the stalls. In 1384 he is known to have owed £400 (later marked paid) and perhaps by this he financed rebuilding of the Nave with its Clerestory windows and two side aisles.

He was closely identified with the “old regime” of King Edward III which, after the death of Queen Phillipa, had been corrupted by the influence of the King’s Mistress, Alice Perrers. A rival establishment gathered about the King’s grandson (son to the Black Prince), later King Richard II. It was Sleford’s duty to superintend the burial of King Edward III, for which records show his acquittance, and with the installation of the new regime Sleford lost his Royal appointment as Keeper of the Wardrobe in 1377 and, probably thereafter retired to Balsham There is a hint of resignation in the inscription on the Brass.

His Brass shows him wearing a Cope decorated with named Saints, each holding the proper symbol. There are the two SS. John (for his name); the two SS. Mary (the Mother of Jesus and the Magdalene); two popular women saints in the mediaeval era, SS. Margaret and Katherine; S. Etheldreda for Ely and S. Wilfrid (who had received Etheldreda’s monastic vows) for Ripon where Sleford was a Canon.

The Brass carries his monogram IS; armorial bearings for his Royal patrons, Queen Philippa of Hainault and King Edward III; and symbols of the Evangelists Mathew, Mark, and Luke but that for John is missing. At the top his path to judgment is depicted – his soul is on a sheet held by two angels while above is God as Holy Trinity and the inscription (freely rendered to English “O Holy Trinity, I beseech you to receive me at the end.”

Within the border is a verse inscription with some words abbreviated or left understood. It tells of his career, clerical appointments, connection with King Edward III, and work at Balsham.

John Blodwell

John Blodwell John Blodwell Drawing

The eminent doctor John Blodwell rests for a while beneath this stone. He was blind for a long time; while he lived here as a little old man he was an ornament of the Church and gave kind refreshment to his fellow men. May God himself be to him refreshment, light and peace. He died on the sixteenth of April 1462. May God in his mercy give eternal rest. Amen.

The identity of the Knight is unknown. The Armour is “Yorkist” in style and points to the latter 1470s. Balsham was an ecclesiastical manor and there was no influential local family to which he might be related, though the Allingtons of nearby Horseheath may be a possibility forbears and descendants are buried at Horseheath but this is only conjecture.

William Allington d.1485 was killed at the Battle of Bosworth, his burial place is unknown; his forbears and descendants-are buried at Horseheath but this is only conjecture.

   Lion at the feet of the knight

P(er)sonis trine, posco me susc(ipe)re fme.

John Sleford, appointed as Rector and having been abandoned by the World, not a severe man in the use of money (lit: as to his purse, in other words not a mean man), lies portrayed here, beneath the stone. He was a protector of just men and a constant punisher of vices, Whom King Edward, lingering into evil days (lit: slow towards evils), had loved. He ruled his (the king’s) Wardrobe while he prospered (lit: lived well). He built this church; he never grieved for it afterwards (or: he never shone afterwards). He made these stalls, pouring out gold and silver liberally. He was a Canon first of Wells, then of Ripon. He, who recorded the acts of the English kingdoms, Departed (this life) by a gentle death on the feast of Edward the King (or: he departed this life by a gentle death on the feast of Edward the king, who denounced the acts of the English kingdoms), the year 1400 being complete. His body was carried down to the grave, adding to this the first (year of the new century). O merciful Christ I pray that this man may enter heaven. May he know nothing sorrowful, because he (Christ) bore it (i.e. sorrow) for all men.

O one, threefold in your persons, I beseech you to receive me at the end

(About the Margin).

(At the Foot).

About the margin.

The eminent doctor John Blodwell, who stays for a while beneath this stone, was blind for a long time. A little old man, living here, he was an ornament of the Church, a good host; to whom may God be refreshment, rest and light (lit. day) He died on the sixteenth day of the month April, in the year of our Lord 1462; to whom may God, pitying (him) give eternal rest.

At the foot.