This little memorial plaque commemorates not only the money collected specifically for the re-ordering of the Church, but also the two very generous gifts that the Taylor family had previously presented to the Church.

The Taylor family owned and lived in Welland Court until the mid 1750s when they sold it to the Bright family who owned it until 1876.  Welland Court is located at the end of Welland Court Lane, one mile to the south east of the new Church of St James.  The next dwelling to the north of Welland Court is The Old Vicarage.  The old (now demolished) Church of St. James sat in between the two houses.  The Church Graveyard still exists.

The two pieces presented by the Taylor family were a handsome silver-gilt chalice with a high spire-like cover of elaborate repoussé work, which bore the hall marks for 1613, also a stoneware flagon with a silver-gilt lid, neck-band and foot with the hall marks of 1582.  Both items bore the Taylor Coat of Arms.  At some point in its history, the stoneware flagon was broken and replaced with a blown glass one, on which the original silver-gilt lid, neck-band and foot were re-used.

The two Taylor pieces and others, were sold by the Parochial Church Council (PCC) at auction by Bonhams.  It was a very involved process to obtain the necessary permission from the ‘Consistory Court of the Diocese of Worcester’ to sell the items.  The Judgement and permission granted (dated 2nd July 2011) was 24 pages long.  The inquiry even had to trace and contact the then representative of the Taylor family who had donated the two most important pieces.

The Bonhams auction was in November 2011. They referred to the flagon as “The Welland Jug” and described it as ‘An Elizabeth l silver-gilt flagon with later clear glass body. Maker’s mark RB possibly by Richard Brooke, London 1582′.  The PCC had previously sold this item in 1845 and re-acquired it in 1882.

Bonhams referred to the second item as ‘The Welland Cup‘.  They described it as, ‘A James l silver-gilt steeple cup with lid … engraved around the rim. The gift of Ms Jane and Mrs Penelope Taylor to the Parish Church of Welland, Worcestershire 1735′.  The maker’s initials were TF for either Thomas Francis or Thomas Flint (two appraisers did not agree). You might just be able to make out the word Penelope Taylor on the base and the hallmarks higher up.  The Taylor Coat of Arms is not visible as it is on the back.

Detail of the chalice: