St John's Church, Frome, Medallions in Nave. 1877
There are 18 medallions in the Nave at Frome. 9 show scenes from Parables and 9 show miracles.I cannot find when the first ones were added but the newspaper reports below show ones being added in 1876, 1877 and a final one ( undoubtably completed by Jame's' son James Nesfield) in 1903. The archive photographs below were provided by the Frome archivist and shows some of the sculptures in London. The gilding was added later, on site, at Frome
16.06.1876
The Western Gazette reports “ Four new sculptures by Mr. Forsyth, of London, are being placed in the parish church “
07.04.1877
The Illustrated London News reports “ The sculptured adornments of Frome church have been increased by the addition of three more works by Mr. Forsyth. One is a representation of the parable of the ‘ Pharisee and Publican’ and completes the series of parable and miracle illustrations in the spandrils between the arches of the nave, making sixteen in all. “
15.06.1877
The Western Gazette reports “Additional medallions have been placed in the spandrils of the arches in the south arcade of this church, all of which, representing the parables of our Lord, are now completed. They are fine specimens of art, and are from the studio of Mr. Forsyth, of London. Some of them have been exhibited at the Royal Academy “
04.12.1903
The Somerset Standard reports “ The Ashby Memorial – During the last week the beautifully carved medallion, which is to be placed in St John’s Church in memory of the Late Mr. George Ashby, who was for nearly 50 years the honoured sacristan of the church, has been on view in the Baptistery for the benefit of the subscribers and those interested in the memorial. It will be remembered it was decided at a vestry meeting to raise a fund to place a medallion to the memory of Mr. Ashby in the church he loved so well and served so faithfully ....The execution of the medallion was entrusted by Mr. C. Baily, who kindly acted for the committee in this matter, to the well-known firm of Messrs. Forsyth and Co. of London. The subject chosen by the committee for the medallion is the parable of the ‘Talents’ and this has been beautifully portrayed, the carving being a superb piece of artistic work, while the gilding has been executed by Mr. B. Jordan, of the Portway Monumental Works, by whom it will be erected “
16.06.1876
The Western Gazette reports “ Four new sculptures by Mr. Forsyth, of London, are being placed in the parish church “
07.04.1877
The Illustrated London News reports “ The sculptured adornments of Frome church have been increased by the addition of three more works by Mr. Forsyth. One is a representation of the parable of the ‘ Pharisee and Publican’ and completes the series of parable and miracle illustrations in the spandrils between the arches of the nave, making sixteen in all. “
15.06.1877
The Western Gazette reports “Additional medallions have been placed in the spandrils of the arches in the south arcade of this church, all of which, representing the parables of our Lord, are now completed. They are fine specimens of art, and are from the studio of Mr. Forsyth, of London. Some of them have been exhibited at the Royal Academy “
04.12.1903
The Somerset Standard reports “ The Ashby Memorial – During the last week the beautifully carved medallion, which is to be placed in St John’s Church in memory of the Late Mr. George Ashby, who was for nearly 50 years the honoured sacristan of the church, has been on view in the Baptistery for the benefit of the subscribers and those interested in the memorial. It will be remembered it was decided at a vestry meeting to raise a fund to place a medallion to the memory of Mr. Ashby in the church he loved so well and served so faithfully ....The execution of the medallion was entrusted by Mr. C. Baily, who kindly acted for the committee in this matter, to the well-known firm of Messrs. Forsyth and Co. of London. The subject chosen by the committee for the medallion is the parable of the ‘Talents’ and this has been beautifully portrayed, the carving being a superb piece of artistic work, while the gilding has been executed by Mr. B. Jordan, of the Portway Monumental Works, by whom it will be erected “
