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| Lord Foley, Thomas (T4), then owner of Witley Court,
transformed the church around 1747 with painted windows, the organ and case, the barrel
vaulted ceiling to accommodate the ceiling paintings, and the wall and ceiling
decorations. The picture here shows the church during the
Foley era, with its private doorway (to the left of the altar) to Witley Court, the box
pews (which could be hired annually) with the respective family name on each door. The
Foleys, of course, occupied a special box pew!
A letter written by William Shenstone, poet, on
20th November 1762, contains the following passage, which gives his
reaction to Thomas's house and chapel:
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| "About a Week ago, I paid a Visit of two or
three Days, which I had long promised, to Lord Foley. His Table, for a Constancy, is the
most magnificant of any I ever saw: eighteen or twenty elegant Dishes; a continual
Succession of Company; his Behaviour, perfectly hospitable, and his Conversation really
entertaining. I most readily own myself to have been under a Mistake, with Regard to his
companionable Character. My Reception was as agreeable as it could possibly be. As to the
rest, he has a most admirable House and Furniture; but without any Room or Utensil that
would stand the Test of modern Criticism. The Views around him, wild and great; and the
Park capable of being rendered fine; twice as striking as it is at present, if he would
fell some Oaks, under the Value of a Crown, and some Hawthorns, under the Value of a
Half-penny: but 'tis possible, at his Time of Life, &tc. nothing of this Sort will be
undertaken. The two Things at present remarkable are, his Lodge and his Chapel.
The Portico of the former, (designed by Fleetcroft) affords three different and
striking Prospects. |
The Chapel is so very
superb and elegant, that Mrs Gataker has nothing to do but send you and me thither, to say
our Prayers in it. In reality, it is perfect Luxury; as I truly thought it, last
Sunday Se'en-night; his Pew is a Room with a handsome Fire-place; the Ceiling carved,
painted in Compartments, and the Remainder enriched with gilt Stocco Ornaments; the Walls
enriched in the same Manner; the best painted Windows I ever saw: the Monument to
his Father, Mother, and Brothers, cost, he said, 2000 l. the Middle Aisle rendered
comfortable by Iron Stoves, in the Shape of Urns; the Organ perfectly neat, and good, in
Proportion to its Size: and to this Chapel you are led through a Gallery of Paintings
seventy Feet long - And what would you more? You'll say, a good Sermon - I really
think his Parson is able to preach one."
Thomas died four years after he wrote this letter, in 1766. |
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Great Witley Church 
