"Little Jack Horner sat in the corner"

St Andrews, Mells, Wiltshire




Inside Mells church is the family Chapel of the Horner family who were responsible for the restoration of the church in the 1880's. There are numerous memorial plaques to members of the family decorating the walls which look out upon the center piece of the chapel which is a huge Bronze statue to the memory of Edward Horner. Edward was the eldest son of the family and as such the Heir to the Estate and fortunes. He was born on the 3rd May 1883 and like many young men went off to War, where he died of wounds sustained in Noyelles in Picardy, France in November 1917. At the time he was serving as a Lieutenant with the 18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars. He was buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt.


The memorial is made of bronze and shows Edward mounted on his horse. It is the work of Sir Alfred Mannings (1878-1959) and is his first attempt at sculpture rather than painting horses for which he is more well known. The plinth on which the bronze is mounted is a miniature version of the Cenotaph in London and was designed by Sir Edward Luytens (1869-1944).


The Horner family acquired Mells Manor in the 16th Century at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries by Henry VIII. According the legend the last Abbott of Glastonbury sent his steward John Horner to the king with a gift to appease his wrath. In the gift which was a Christmas Pie were the title deeds to Twelve Manorial estates.



On the way, Jack removed one of the title deeds from the pie, which is reputed to be that of the Manor of Mells. In this entertaining episode may be found the origin of the old English nursery rhyme that runs: 'Little Jack Horner sat in the corner eating a Christmas pie, He put in his thumb and pulled out a plum and said what a good boy am I'


This legend is apparently hotly denied by the Horner Family.

The church is open daily for visiting