The Stanton Memorial Aisle was built 1876/7 and is the only major structural alteration to the main fabric of the re-built church of 1854. The Consistory Court ruling in 1999 granted permission to do some re-ordering within the church, but was neither asked to give nor granted permission to re-order this part of the chancel - indeed it stipulated at the chapel within the aisle should be re-instated. Today it stands stripped of its alter and fittings and the circle of chairs bears witness to its use as a sort of informal meeting place. It is believed by some that the Aisle never had a serious purpose, being simply the gutted remains of the old vestry, but this is far from the truth.
When All Saints was re-built in 1854 by the Reverend Stanton, the southern aisle of the nave ended at a screen which was level with the chancel. This screen formed the western wall of the then vestry which was an extension occupying about one third of the southern wall of the chancel. In common with other such structures, it had its own entrance and a fireplace. A further screen separated the vestry from the chancel and probably had a door set in it. The following sketch by the architect T.H. Wyatt is possibly the only one existing which shows the structure as re-built in 1854.
The vestry as part of the original re-built church. The text says "View of the church, as at present, from the South East" (note the ornate lantern over the southern porch).
The Reverend Stanton died in March 1875 and was succeeded by the Reverend Kingsbury who, although only here for 4 years, left his mark. Within a year of arriving he won support to demolish the existing vestry (thereby moving its function into its current location within the northern aisle, behind the organ) and replace it with an extension of the southern aisle of the nave. It was to be called the Stanton Memorial Aisle in memory of the late, and possibly Burbage's most eminent, incumbent. Its arrangement was somewhat strange, taking up two thirds of the southern wall of the chancel and containing 9 pews arranged to face into the heart of the chancel which could be accessed by its own door. With the new nave seating 522 it is unlikely that the extra seats were needed but it is probable that they were used by the social elite of the parish, allowing them to flaunt their status by being segregated from those seated in the nave. It seems ironic that part of the justification for the 1999 re-ordering was to sweep away the Victorian divide between the nave and chancel and so allow greater congregation participation in the service - yet this is what the Stanton Memorial Aisle had achieved without controversy over 120 years earlier.
The new building created the external symmetry we see today with Wyatt's plans showing a southern door into the aisle. It should be noted that the old rectangular southern window in the chancel (which looks like it came from the original, pre-1854 structure) was replaced with the current modern one.
"View from the same point showing the proposed aisle"
And so the parish faithful were served by the Stanton Aisle for the next 33 years until, during the incumbency of Richard de Crespigny Thelwall, it was decided to change its arrangement and have the aisle dedicated as a chapel. The only external alterations needed was to block off the aisle's door and replace it with a window. The Marlborough Times reported on the 10th November 1910 :-
"A new chapel was recently dedicated in the north [! south] aisle of All Saint's Church, Burbage. The eastern end is occupied by a beautiful alter, with panels on each side made of oak, the gift of the Marquess of Ailesbury. The figure on the front is given by Mr. Edwards {the schoolmaster and sometime churchwarden]. The ornaments are the gift of Miss Kingsbury, in memory of her father, Cannon Kingsbury, during whose incumbency the north [south] aisle was built as a memorial to Archdeacon Straton who held the living for many years. The chapel was dedicated to St. Thomas of Canterbury".
The creation of the chapel seems to have been welcomed by the village as a whole and the Marquess's alter was still to be seen until a few years ago (where is it now?). Mid-week services were held in it and it was a place for private prayer. Despite its dedication, it seems that the chapel became known as Lady Chapel (a name normally associated with Our Lady, St. Mary) and it is by this name that it is remembered today.
There are many in the village who regret the passing of the Lady Chapel although, one day, in may return. If the the judge's deliberations gave permission to re-order the nave and part of the chancel, then he also insisted on the re-establishment of the Lady Chapel, so perhaps one day the judge's and the villager's wishes will be fulfilled.
Lady Chapel as it appears today
Looking across the re-ordered chancel and into the Lady Chapel
The interior of the Lady Chapel
©Colin Younger 2001