I was last here around the time the church became redundant and vested in what is now the Churches Conservation Trust. The church is today in a far better state than it was then but the forlorn state that characterises several of the CCT's churches I have visited is also found here. Here is another central tower, although a humble one, with a nave and north aisle to the west and a small chancel to the east. Inside there is a west gallery, and fittings of c1800.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Church of SS Peter & Paul, Shepton Mallet, Somerset
The nave is much narrower than the aisles (which must have had galleries) and crowned by one of the most amazing roofs in England, a wagon roof with ten rows of small panels, each intersection with bosses. Elegant stone pulpit of c1530 makes use of the rood stairs. Two late C13 knights with shields lie on the sills of the east and west window of the north aisle. A brass plate to the C17 Strode family has a central figure of death aiming a spear at the kneeling wife. Alongside the slightly comical bust of Edward Barnard d1641.
Church of SS Peter & Paul, Shepton Mallet, Somerset 1/2
I have not been here for 40 years, well I have but always found the church locked until today. A sign outside proclaims it is usually open 1000-1500. Shepton lies in a dip, and I do not find the town particularly attractive either. That's a shame because the church is interesting and repays a visit.
Grand west tower of Somerset type, the rest externally appears C19 both Georgian and Victorian. No porch, entry via the tower, and there is a good fan-vault high over your head.
Grand west tower of Somerset type, the rest externally appears C19 both Georgian and Victorian. No porch, entry via the tower, and there is a good fan-vault high over your head.
St Mary Magdalen, Ditcheat, Somerset 2/4
Fan vaulting under the tower, and an excellent Somerset tie-beam roof in the nave. In the north aisle is a richly coloured wall painting of St Christopher of c1500. Rich Jacobean pulpit and reading desk, probably once part of a single ensemble. Now Pevsner I feel must have been on the sherry again, as he completely muddles up two different monuments into a single one he describes; there is an C18 memorial with the bust of a woman on top, and a memorial signed by Ford with the relief of a weeping woman as he describes. I did not see the C14 priest's effigy under an ogee canopy he writes about, nor does it appear in my pics, unless it was hidden in the north transept behind the organ. Also in the church the head of a C15 churchyard cross (S transept)
St Mary Magdalen, Ditcheat, Somerset 1/4
This is a grand church, packed with interest, and one which is not very well known, as main roads pass the village by today. It is cruciform, with a central tower and fine detailing. Perp clerestory to the nave and chancel, the windows of the latter below being Dec like the east window and all with internal cusped arches.
Holy Trinity, Wyke Champflower, Somerset 3/3
The division between nave and chancel is a wooden tympanum painted with the Royal Arms and the arms of the then Bishop of Bath & Wells (l) and Archbishop of Canterbury (r) and dated 1624. Jacobean pews complete with hatpegs and an incongrous super-sized stone Elizabethan pulpit, which was placed here in 1624 but said to have been originally elsewhere. The font dates from 1945 but the cover was returned to the rebuilt church in 1623. This church beats Chesterblade into second place as my favourite of the day, and this was my first visit.
Holy Trinity, Wyke Champflower, Somerset 2/3
Away from the main road, and away in fact from any road. It is attached like a private chapel to the rear of The Manor House, reached by a stroll down the drive to the house and veering off along a path to the left. All that can be seen of the church on the approach is the small bell turret peeping over the house roof, like a miniature tower with four tiny angle pinnacles. The room over the north porch must be part of the house. The church was built 1623-4 and the interior is a delight.
Holy Trinity, Wyke Champflower, Somerset 1/3
Spot the church! No wonder I had to ask directions......
Church of SS Mary & John, Lamyat, Somerset
The church is a little puzzle for one reason. Let me set the scene, it is not a large church, small plain west tower, three bayed Perp nave and lower single-bayed chancel. Inside a panelled chancel arch and a principle roof with tie-beams which may in part be original. So it is a surprise to find that this church has two porches, and not only that but that they both have stone vaulting. There is also an odd little pipe organ, a sort of overgrown harmonium but with all the pipes arranged on top or behind and without a case to contain them.
St James, Milton Clevedon, Somerset 2/2
A surprise inside is that the tower internall is five sided, like a west apse, and here hang two rather fine wall monuments. Glass of 1997 in the north transept, not bad actually, although I have no idea what it is supposedly depicting (if it were a religeous story I would have said Jack and the Beanstalk!). A closer look reveals that the glass in the tracery is medieval. The oldest monument is on the north side of the sanctuary in a recess, a stone effigy of a priest, recut.
St James, Milton Clevedon, Somerset 1/2
At the end of a road, through a farmyard and at the side of a country track, lies this interesting church, probably largely C15 but altered and partly rebuilt in the C18 and C19. It is basically a west tower and aisleless nave and chancel, with transepts off the nave, and an odd appearance thanks to the large south porch which adjoins the similar sized transept.
St Peter, Evercreech, Somerset
I came here aged 9 or 10 with my great uncle. I remembered a grand church in the Somerset tradition but with galleries inside over the aisles. The church is quite a size but its proportions make it appear larger than it actually is, tall narrow four bayed clerestoried nave and narrow aisles, and yes the galleries are still there. Oddly though, no porch, the entrance being through the fabulous perfectly proportioned tower. Inside the other principle feature is the nave roof, with tie beams and angels, but principally remembered for being brightly coloured, frowned on today but how many of our medieval interiors must have been.
St Mary, Chesterblade, Somerset
In stark contrast to many Somerset churches, is this very picturesque and humble chapel, on a hill in the centre of the village. It is really a single chamber with a lower shallow east sanctuary (to call it a chancel would give a false impression!) and a south porch which is larger than the chancel. No tower but a small bellcote over the west end. The S doorway is very similar to the doorway at Doulting and has a C15 niche interrupting the hood mould with a statue of the Virgin which Pevsner suggests is C17, but I would have said it was probably C20! And that's about it really, yet it is probably the one of two churches in this tour which had the most impact on me.
St Aldhelm, Doulting, Somerset
A very picturesque church, with its octagonal central tower and spire, and one which I had never been to before, although I thought I had. It is all a bit of a fake, being almost completely rebuilt by the Victorians but they did largely rebuild what was there already so the spirit of the design is old, as well as some interior details being original. The church is cruciform and aisleless, and there are a number of fine grotesques and gargoyles. The nave has north and south porches, the splendid south porch with its fan faulting being locked chained and padlocked. Pevsner descibes this in detail and even has an illustration in BofE, yet it is C19, and an improved design to the original; much of the original porch stonework is built into the wall of the Old Vicarage. The north porch is the main entrance and shelters a late Norman doorway. From west to east the church appears internally all C19, the crossing is rib-vaulted and there is a fancy wooden Gothic screen. It is the transepts that seem old, and the roofs of both are indeed original C15 with ornate tie-beams, bosses and winged angels carrying shields. The font too is retooled and improved but is C15 with panelled stem and demi-figures of angels around the base of the bowl.
www.flickr.com/photos/churchcrawler/2500549582/
www.flickr.com/photos/churchcrawler/2500549396/
www.flickr.com/photos/churchcrawler/2500549582/
www.flickr.com/photos/churchcrawler/2500549396/
Thursday, June 19, 2008
St James. East Cranmore, Somerset
1846 by T H Wyatt, and now a house. Nave with south transept, and chancel with north transeptal bay. Small tower and spire in the angle of nave and S transept, doubling as a porch.
St Bartholomew, West Cranmore, Somerset 2
The arcade has one stone angel on the third pier. The south window of the nave has glass by Cakebread, Robey & Co of Stoke Newington, which is a firm I have never heard of before. Better the glass in the east window with deep blues, 1844 according to Pevsner. Pulpit with Jacobean panels and some minor monuments.
St Bartholomew, West Cranmore, Somerset 1
came here a very long time ago, it was nearly dark and the church was open and my memory was of an uninteresting church so I have never come back until today. OK it is not one of the wonders of architecture but it does have a solid "Somerset" tower complete with fan vault, and a nave and north aisle, S porch, and chancel with north bay. Under the tower four well-preserved hatchments.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Former Chapel, Waterlip, Somerset
This chapel is now a house - "Georges' Corner" - , but was built in 1874 for the Primitive Methodists.
I had never heard of this small place before - it is in the hills to the east of Shepton Mallet.
I had never heard of this small place before - it is in the hills to the east of Shepton Mallet.
St John the Baptist, Farrington Gurney, Somerset 2
Here is a shot of the interior looking back towards the tower and entrance.
St John the Baptist, Farrington Gurney, Somerset
"1843 by Pinch. Very dull neo-Norman with square Norman W tower" is all it merits in the BofE's entry by Pevsner, and based on that some would say why bother? Well to us churchcrawlers any church is one to be visited, and if your expectations are low then a visit often repays. The church is not small and has nave and aisles with tall arcades inside, and a lower chancel. Four memorials brought from the old church, none of any importance (save to the families I suppose). Over the west door and missed by the master is a medieval statue, with what appears to be a depiction of the Trinity, with a seated figure of God holding his crucified son in his hands to my uneducated eye. Date possibly C13?
Monday, May 19, 2008
St Leonard, Otterford, Somerset
The church probably deserves a little more of a description by Pevsner than "mainly of 1861".In fact it has some charm, a medieval west tower, a heavily restored nave and chancel with a victorian north aisle. Inside the chancel arch is panelled and clearly medieval, as is the font bowl.
All Saints, Curland, Somerset
After a brief call at the village to find a former Methodist church-now-a-house (minimal Gothic) we headed south to another cross on the map in near isolation. I spotted it as cbn read the map. I also spotted a row of modern velux windows in the roof and declaed that this was a house. From the approach nothing appeared to suggest this was not still a church but a letterbox and log stash in the porch were clues which were unmistakeable. The church is nothing more than a Victorian Perp rectangle with a bellcote and small south porch.
St Peter, Staple Fitzpaine, Somerset
The weather which had been showery all day now turned to persistent rain. A pity because here was one of the prettiest exteriors of the day, thanks largely to the handsome Somerset Perp tower, not one of the largest examples but a finely detailed tower with twin two light bell openings, open parapet and a cluster of pinnacles. The church it is attached to is much humbler with three bayed nave and aisles and chancel with NE vestry. Nothing much inside either apart from a couple of screens reused from the old Bickenhall church nearby when that was demolished. Good Norman arch in the south porch.
St Michael, Orchard Portman, Somerset
The church is sadly rendered outside, the north porch has been turned into a baptistry and hence the rather fine doorway is inside the church. Not sure where Pevsner was describing - it sounds like here but the details are muddled with somewhere else. The former south aisle (shown in old prints) was removed after 1832. The present transeptal chapel, possibly a family pew was built in 1910 but the arch to the nave is of this time and in no way resembles anything Norman. The helms mentioned have been loaned to Taunton Museum.
St Nicholas, Corfe, Somerset
Entirely rebuilt neo-Norman of 1842, presumably to match the original font inside. The tower and aisle added 1858. Open and quite fun. Of course the Norman theme is taken to absurd lengths - interlace on the pews, arched decoration on the stalls and outside on the odd piece of wall jutting eastwards from the chancel, and even one tomb chest in the churchyard.
St Andrew and St Mary, Pitminster, Somerset
One of Somerset's few spires, and this a short leaded recessed one on top of an octogonal bellstage which in turn stands on a larger square base (impressive squinches), and embraced by the aisles which are largely rebuilt. Odd stairway west of the porch leads where? It is too short to lead out onto the aisle roof, there is no upper room to the porch, so does it lead somehow over the aisle into the tower? The main features worthy of note inside are the three monuments to generations of the Coles family, although none are in their original condition or position. The latest one has large kneeling daughters in front of the chest, and two babies, one at the head and the foot of the wife - of which Pevsner only spotted one. He does not mention at all the rather fine font of c1450 which although restored has two faces with medieval scenes (St George slaying the dragon, St James of Compstella flanked by a kneeling couple possibly the donors), nor the handsome Jacobean pulpit with back plate and tester.
St Michael, Angersleigh, Somerset
This is a small church and again of little interest but considerable charm. Much was rebuilt in the C19, and the exterior is rendered (a finish I do not like). A whole host of daffodils lined the path to the door. No porch, you enter under the tower. Pevsner does not mention the Norman font.
St Mary, West Buckland, Somerset
I ambled around the outside, noting the padlock and chain on the outer gates of the porch. The wind was rather fresh, and the church is prominently placed on a hill (and a notable feature from the M5 as you head north from Devon, just past the Wellington turn-off.) Tall tower, embattled aisles, tall nave roof (but no clerestory).
There are some places you wonder why they bother locking the church as there is little inside worth taking and here was another case in point. The nave has a wagon roof, but only two bayed north and south arcades. Square Purbeck marble font in the SE chapel, and a window by Burne-Jones in the north aisle.
There are some places you wonder why they bother locking the church as there is little inside worth taking and here was another case in point. The nave has a wagon roof, but only two bayed north and south arcades. Square Purbeck marble font in the SE chapel, and a window by Burne-Jones in the north aisle.
St John the Evangelist, Carlton in Lindrick, Notts
An away game at Doncaster also meant a trip to this church which has one of the oldest towers in England
For more on the church and my complete set of photos please visit my Flickr photoset via this link
For more on the church and my complete set of photos please visit my Flickr photoset via this link
Sunday, January 20, 2008
St George, Hinton St George, Somerset - The Wild Man
[continued] This monument on the east wall is to John Baron Poulett d1649 but attracts great debate as to date of construction - Pevsner suggests C18. It is full baroque, but built of plaster and I am afraid in a rather fragile state. A Wild man (and wild woman) flank the sarcophagus which rests on lions and a griffin. An angel ascends above.
St George, Hinton St George, Somerset 5/7
A fairly ordinary church extended in the C15 and 1815 by the Poulett family with a splendid tower and family pew and chapel respectively. The church is full of memorials to family members down the years. One of the grandest monuments is between chancel and chapel with effigies nicely spaced on a flat tomb chest under a thankfully tall canopy. Beyond curtains which when parted revealed the treasure house beyond. A pair of monuments in the north wall reuse pairs of effigies from earlier monuments, one on the west wall was thrown out from St Martin-in-the-Fields in London in the C18, but the one on the east wall is jaw-dropping. [continued above]
All Saints, Lopen, Somerset
Another simple two-celled church with bellcote, extended by an overlarge north transept in 1834. Rather charming inside with another west gallery but the one in the north transept has vanished (there is an external stair and doorway).
St Michael, Seavington St Michael, Somerset
A wierd-looking little church, without tower, instead a bellcote extended into a turret or a turret with added bellcote - see the picture when I send it! Inside a west gallery and an upright effigy of a C14 Civilian.
St Mary, Seavington St Mary, Somerset
The long-ago vested CCT church, locked with single keyholder, who lives at a house named "Mxxx" with neighbouring properties called "Mxxx Cottage" and "Mxxx Barn Cottage". There followed a bizarre overlong farce with keys. I went to the wrong Mxxx property in all innocence. Meanwhile an electricity meter reader had picked the right property and had the key, meeting my friend who I had left back at the church. I arrived back emptyhanded, a ten minute discussion took place about the keyholder in which I eventually decided we were talking about different houses, but meter reader would not take the responsibility to let us have the key and return it. Instead he drove off only to return with the key saying it was OK for us to have it.
After all that fuss the church was a crushing disappointment inside - I question whether the CCT would accept it for vesting if it was offered today. We returned the key - I made cbn knock the door to make sure!
After all that fuss the church was a crushing disappointment inside - I question whether the CCT would accept it for vesting if it was offered today. We returned the key - I made cbn knock the door to make sure!
St Mary, Kingstone, Somerset
is a complete Perp church, nave with south porch, central tower and chancel. There is not a lot to detain you long - unless you are waiting for someone who is taking lots of pics of the rather fragmentary stained glass and moving art displays......
St Andrew, Dowlish Wake, Somerset
8/5/2007
The church was largely rebuilt in the C19, but reusing old bits and setting a few puzzles for us. However much of interest inside and some excellent stained glass. Nave, central tower and chancel, with north aisle to the nave, and north aisle/chapel to the tower and chancel. Odd blocked north tower arch with a huge lancet opening into the north chapel. Between chancel and chapel a large tomb chest with effigies to John Speke and wife, all terribly recut, as the the C14 effigy of a lady in a cusped recess in the chapel. Also here is the man that found the source of the Nile, John Henning Speke d1864, a rather pompous black sarcophagus, back plate with inscription under an arch and a bust of the explorer who carelessly shot himself in the hip whilst out with his cousin in Wiltshire and died aged 37 15 minutes later. Some classy C19 fittings, also a much worn second font from West Dowlish church which was demolished c1700, Norman (although the church guide says Early Saxon) with remains of blank arcading around the bowl. [other pics on flickr]
The church was largely rebuilt in the C19, but reusing old bits and setting a few puzzles for us. However much of interest inside and some excellent stained glass. Nave, central tower and chancel, with north aisle to the nave, and north aisle/chapel to the tower and chancel. Odd blocked north tower arch with a huge lancet opening into the north chapel. Between chancel and chapel a large tomb chest with effigies to John Speke and wife, all terribly recut, as the the C14 effigy of a lady in a cusped recess in the chapel. Also here is the man that found the source of the Nile, John Henning Speke d1864, a rather pompous black sarcophagus, back plate with inscription under an arch and a bust of the explorer who carelessly shot himself in the hip whilst out with his cousin in Wiltshire and died aged 37 15 minutes later. Some classy C19 fittings, also a much worn second font from West Dowlish church which was demolished c1700, Norman (although the church guide says Early Saxon) with remains of blank arcading around the bowl. [other pics on flickr]
St Mary, Donyatt, Somerset
The first church of a crawl with my friend cbn. A medium sized church, seemingly all of one period, if you discount the Victorian restoration! Tall Perp W tower, nave and aisles, chancel and chapels. The Lady with the Wimple C14 mentioned by Pevsner was stolen in the 1980s. Amusing head corbels around the stair turret of the tower (at the NE angle) and a handsome pulpit.
St John the Baptist, Chipping Barnet - Butterfield's new church
St John the Baptist, Chipping Barnet - Butterfield's new church
Originally uploaded by ChurchCrawler
St John the Baptist, Chipping Barnet - the old C15 nave
14th April 2007 and a trip to watch Barnet play Bristol Rovers.
St John's Church stands in the fork of the main road at the top of the hill from the stadium at Underhill and the station, and from here appears entirely C19, and I guessed the work of William Butterfield (which it is!).
However this is a medieval site, and Butterfield added a new nave chancel and south aisle onto the existing medieval church which survives as the north aisle and outer aisle. The former west tower and chancel were pulled down, and a new tower built at the west end of the Victorian nave. The north arcade is the Perp. south arade with the clerestory above now unglazed and entirely an internal feature. It survives on the north side and the church was not a bad size before extension.
Some stone fragements are built into the new tower and in the south chapel is a splendid canopied tomb chest and effigy to Thomas Ravenscroft d1630, the figure carved from a single block of pink alabaster. Elaborate vaulting to the canopy.
St John's Church stands in the fork of the main road at the top of the hill from the stadium at Underhill and the station, and from here appears entirely C19, and I guessed the work of William Butterfield (which it is!).
However this is a medieval site, and Butterfield added a new nave chancel and south aisle onto the existing medieval church which survives as the north aisle and outer aisle. The former west tower and chancel were pulled down, and a new tower built at the west end of the Victorian nave. The north arcade is the Perp. south arade with the clerestory above now unglazed and entirely an internal feature. It survives on the north side and the church was not a bad size before extension.
Some stone fragements are built into the new tower and in the south chapel is a splendid canopied tomb chest and effigy to Thomas Ravenscroft d1630, the figure carved from a single block of pink alabaster. Elaborate vaulting to the canopy.