The Reredos, carved from Sandstone which surrounds the window depicts the last supper and was a gift of Mr and Mrs Stuart Thompson.

For over half a century the Thompsons were very prominent and familiar figures, not only in church affairs but also in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the village. 

The South Transcept houses the church's war memorial, it was carved with great skill by a local craftsman, Mr J. Hind and was unveiled by the Bishop of Peterborough in 1923.

The font is modern and is housed in the baptistry, situated under the tower at the west end.  Entrance to the tower is achieved through a door to the left of the font.

The Organ too is a relatively new addition, installed in 1907 and was acquired from a north Leicestershire church.  At the end of World War Two, the specifications were as follows:

Swell Organ.  Geigen Principle. 4';  Oboe. 8';  Violin Diapason. 8';  Viol di Gamba. 8';  Lieblich Gedakt. 8'.

Great Organ.  Wald Flute. 4';  Principle. 4';  Clarabella. 8';  Dulicana. 8';  2 Open Diapasons. 8'. Pedal Organ.  Sub Bass. 16'.

In the 1950s.  Trumpet. 8', and Bass Flute. 8' stops were added to the swell and pedal organs respectively.  In th 1970s a two rank mixture stop was added to the swell organ.

Some of the choir stalls in the Chancel were a gift from Mrs Cresswell, in memory of her son who was killed in the war.  All of the stalls offer an excellent example of wood-craftsmanship.
 

Memorials

It has been noted by Thorsby, a prominent eighteenth century Leicestershire historian, that Barrow Church contains a greater number of monuments to gentry of good estate than almost any other village in the country.

In the north aisle are floor tablets to the memory of two of the Herricks of Beaumanor and of the Marshalls, a very ancient family.
In the north transcept is a tablet to the memory of the Reverend William Easton and Susannah his wife.  Rev. Easton's incumbency lasted from 1794 - 1832 and he was a man of resolution and quick decision.

In the South Transcept resides a wall monument to the memory of Martha Utber.  It is widely believed that she lived for twenty years after the monument was erected.

The age on her coffin suggested she was 99 at her death although it was generally supposed that she was considerably older.

A woman doctor was a rare thing in the eighteenth century and the activities of a Barrow "lady surgeon" are recalled by the memorial to Elizabeth Lilley.

"Unto this place her body lieth near.
She in her day did practise chirurgery.
Many great cures she did for charity
Those that were poor she nothing did she charge.
As for the rich their bills were not large.
For charity few with her might compare.
Nor pity in using constant prayer.
Zealous she was and made a Godly end.
A civil neighbour and a dear missed friend."

Perhaps the most renowned of the memorials in Barrow Church is the famous Cave Memorial in the chancel.

With its quaint irreverent puns, the Cave memorial indicates a spirit of levity which assorts strangely with the sacred atomosphere of a church,

"Here in this Grave there lyes a Cave,
We call a Cave a Grave.
If Cave be Grave and Grave be Cave,
Then render judge I crave.
Whether doth Cave here lye in Grave
Or Grave here lye in Cave?
If Grave in Cave here buried lye
Then Grave where is thy victorie?
Goe reader and report here lyes a Cave
Who conquers death and buries his own Grave."

Close by is the large and imposing Cave Tablet. Theophilus Cave, the most eminent member of this family was an ardent churchgoer. 

Uncle to Humphrey Babington, Babington remembered the deep interest his Uncle had always shown in the Spiritual side of village life.

In his will Babington made provision for the presentation of Bibles and prayer books to poor children who could read. 

These Bibles became known as the Cave Bibles and were annually presented by the Vicar of the Parish.

Back to the top