Baydon Church Clock restored and back in place

Baydon Church clock, the village’s war memorial, has recently been restored with funding from the War Memorial Trust and Baydon Parish Council.

On Wednesday morning, Bishop of Ramsbury Andrew Rumsey, with members of St Nicolas Church and the village community, led the service for the rededication of the refurbished clock. Fittingly, the services’ readings and prayers were based on that of the original Dedication in 1919.

During the service, Bishop Andrew Rumsey asked the congregation, children and adults, to reflect on why clocks were important and how they allow us to ‘know ourselves’ by placing our time within a longer story. Key Stage 2 pupils from St Nicolas Baydon also participated in the service by leading prayers and performing a song.

The congregation then, despite the overcast weather, gathered in the churchyard for the rededication and blessing of the clock. In remembrance, the names of men from Baydon village who lost their lives in the war were read, a wreath laid and a minute’s silence observed.

The clock, which is the war memorial for the village, was built in 1919. Church warden Peter Chambers explained that, after the First World War, the village, like most around the UK, wanted to honour those who had died in the conflict. After discussion of whether the memorial should be a bell, tower, stained glass window, lion on the green or clock, the parish decided to commission a clock. Funds of £80 (about £3400 today) were raised from all working villagers and a clock commissioned from Deacon’s in Swindon.

The clock, now restored to its place on the church tower, is easily seen from the village and will continue to serve as a memorial to those who have lost their lives in conflict for many years to come.