Commandment Boards 

We have two rather wonderful commandment boards hanging in the Chancel. They were painted by the daughters of Revd Robert Hawthorn, who was vicar from 1845 to 1879. His name is on our list of vicars



His daughters signed the boards - presumably the one they each painted - Sarah in 1850, or possibly in 1859, and Grace certainly in 1859. 

  

The boards have been grubby for a long time, and in the last year or two they had started to come apart. The longitudinal boards were twisting and splitting open, and the top frame of the first board (commandments 1-4) had come apart and was detaching from the boards. They were probably rather unsafe. They looked like this: 

  

We decided it was time to get them repaired and cleaned. We found Andrew & Mark Hoskins, who have a lovely workshop in Little Shelford, and do marvellous work with all sorts of furniture in and around Cambridge. They took the boards away to work on them, stabilising them and cleaning them. 

  


Now they have returned. There are now no major cracks, no fear that anyone will be injured by them, and they are much lighter and easier to read, with the gold decoration even glinting gently. And the Chancel walls were re-painted by Stephen Brown and Ollie Challis while they were away, so they really look great. 



  

Come and take a look!

One last thing: we reckon this is the first work done on them since they were completed, and it cost rather a lot, a bit over £2,000. It was worth it, as they have such a personal connection to the church, and they should now be fine for at least another 100 years. But even so, if you thought about making a contribution to this work when we asked a few months back, but did not get round to it, please do now, and your contribution would be gratefully received. Please let Sue Brown know if you make  donation for this specific purpose.