History of the Parish Church of St John the Baptist,
Eastnor, Ledbury, Herefordshire

In 1851, under the direction of Sir Gilbert Scott, the whole church was taken down (with the exception of the tower), all the stones being numbered and those in good order were being replaced exactly as they had been lain before. Unfortunately, a large number of the stones had so far perished that they could not be used again. The west window of the north isle appears to have been the best preserved portion of the old building, nearly all of its stones surviving the ordeal.

The expense of restoring the nave was borne by Earl Somers, and that the chancel by Reverend William Pulling, the Rector. On 3 October 1851, the Bishop of Hereford issued a license to celebrate divine service in a room at Eastnor Castle whilst repairs were being made to the church. When the church was restored, only a small portion of the stonework was replaced. No evidence as to the dates of different parts of the original building can now be obtained from the variations in workmanship of the bonding of masonry at different periods, but it has been possible to arrive at some conclusions about the previous history of the church by reference.

At the same time Scott built the mortuary Chapel for the monuments of the Somers Cox family. The east window in this chapel is a reproduction of the early decorate east window in Edenbridge Church which was stated by Sir Gilbert in 1848 to be unique, being the only window in the world in which the arms of the Saviour could be stretched out on a cross without being cut through by stone tracery. The stained glass in this chapel was given by Lady Henry Somerset and Adeline Duchess of Bedford to their father's memory. The wrought iron gates, which separate it from the church, were placed there by Virginia Countess Somers.

The 2nd Earl Somers, who died in 1852, the same year as the church was reopened for public worship, was unable to worship within its newly built walls. He was buried in the Mortuary Chapel on 17 October 1852. At the reopening of the church a service of Reconciliation was used as it was decided that "only the complete destruction of the altar, or the crimes or murder and adultery within the holy walls" annulled the act of Consecration.

At the time of restoration of the church the black oak pulpit and reading desk was presented to Ipsley church and it was replaced by one in stone which is in use at the present day. The oak choir stalls were a gift from former pupils at Oxford of the Reverend W Pulling who had been a Fellow and Tutor of Brasenose. A litany desk was given in memory of the Reverend Harry Fuller MA, Curate of the parish who died at the Rectory in 1854 aged 24. The organ was the gift of the 3rd Earl Somers. The font was given to a neighbouring church, the parishioners of Eastnor replacing it with the one now in use.

Click HERE to read about the restoration of the Nicholson Organ

The very beautiful reredos is of a composite nature. The alabaster, decorated with the late English Gothic Tudor rose, was given by the family of the late Reverend W Pulling in his memory and that of his wife. A faculty for erecting it was granted on 4 October 1896. The renaissance work of white marble was added by Lady Henry Somerset - it had formed part of a tomb bought in Sienna by the 3rd Earl Somers. In order to make it harmonise the Dove, chalice and other emblems were carved on it. The screen in the tower arch was given in memory of Captain R Somers Cocks MC, 7th Somerset Light Infantry, by his parents, the Reverend H and Mrs Somers Cocks. It was made by Eastnor workmen of Eastnor oak and dedicated by John Reginald, Bishop of Rochester, on 31 December 1922.