St Oswald's Church. The Parish of Methley and Mickletown.
Savile Monument, St. Oswald's Church.
Until 1948 this massive monument was in the
Waterton Chapel, facing east-west and standing below the east window,
where the medieval altar had been. The latter was removed during the
Reformation. The monument now stands north-south, immediately to the
right inside the south door of the church. The sculptor was probably
Maximilian Colt, who flourished between 1595 and 1645.
On
top of the high, colourful tomb are three large effigies: Sir John Savile,
Baron of the Exchequer (right), Sir Henry Savile, his son (centre), and
Mary, the son's wife (left).
The effigy of Sir John is shown wearing judge's robes with a ruff and
a square college cap. He died in London in 1606 and was buried in the
church of St. Dunstan, in the East, only his heart being brought to Methley
and buried here - the inscription is on the base of the tomb. Sir Henry
Savile is clad in armour with a large ruff. His feet are resting on an
owl - the crest of his family. Henry died in 1663. Next to him is his
wife, Mary, and at her feet a boy holding a skull.
The base of the tomb is decorated with laurel leaves and has the Savile
motto "Je veille" - "I keep watch", and the arms of
Ulster "Paciencia y basta". There are owls on wreaths. Owls
- crest of Saviles. The Savile owl was incorporated into the Leeds Arms
in 1626 in honour of Sir John Savile, the first honorary Alderman of Leeds.
South-east view from the top of the church tower, c.1903.
Notice there are no graves at the lower end
of the churchyard, although the path indicates that the land may have
been consecrated and ready for burials. There is no cenotaph. The view
is over to the schoolhouse of the Church or National School (now the Parish
Centre), the Rectory (now a private house known as "The Chantry"),
and towards Pinder Green, a footpath behind the Rectory leads to Pinder
Green. In the distance is the Junction Pit chimney on top of Junction
Hill.
East View from top of church tower c.1920s.
Looking over the roof of the church towards the Cedars. The photograph
shows the main road, Cenotaph, the Church School, and many trees. It shows
the front of the Cedars. There is a small gate in the perimeter wall of
the Cedars' grounds onto the main road, which was used by the Rector,
Rev. Philip Yorke Savile, when he lived at the Cedars from 1841-1867,
before the Rectory was built. It gave easy access to the main path to
the church. The photo shows how little traffic was on the main road at
this time
