St Mary's Church, Wormsley
Encyclopedia
St Mary's Church, Wormsley, is a redundant
Anglican
church in Wormsley, some 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northwest of Hereford
, Herefordshire
, England . It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
.
features dating from the 12th century, although it is thought that an earlier church may have existed on the site. Alterations were made to it in the 13th century and later. The chancel
was probably rebuilt in the 19th century. The church was declared redundant on 1 March 1972, and was vested
in the Churches Conservation Trust on 21 May 1974.
rubble
with sandstone ashlar
dressings. It is roofed in Welsh slate
with tiles on the crests. The plan is simple, consisting of a three-bay
nave
with a south porch, and a two-bay chancel. At the west end of the nave is a gable
d bellcote with two trefoil
ed openings which dates from the 13th century. The north side of the nave contains a blocked doorway with a lancet window
to its right and a trefoil-headed window to the left. In its south wall is one lancet window to the left of the porch and a double lancet to the right. In the north wall of the chancel are two lancet windows, and in the south wall is one lancet window and a pair of square-headed windows. The east window consists of three stepped lancets. The south doorway dates from the 12th century. It has a large lintel
and a tympanum
decorated with lozenges.
is from the 12th or 13th century and consists of a round bowl on a cylindrical base. The pulpit
is in oak and dates from the 17th century. There is stained glass in the east window. On the north wall are brass plaques to the memory of two local men killed in the First World War.
tomb from the late 18th century to the memory of two Knight sisters. Elsewhere are three limestone
chest tombs in Neoclassical
style. One is dated 1824 to the memory of Richard Payne Knight
, who was an archaeologist, architect and writer. Near to this is the chest tomb of his brother, Thomas Andrew Knight
, dated 1838. He was an expert fruit grower who developed new varieties of apples. There is a further chest tomb to another Thomas Andrew Knight that is dated 1827.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
church in Wormsley, some 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northwest of Hereford
Hereford
Hereford is a cathedral city, civil parish and county town of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Wye, approximately east of the border with Wales, southwest of Worcester, and northwest of Gloucester...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
, England . It has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
.
History
The present church contains NormanNorman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
features dating from the 12th century, although it is thought that an earlier church may have existed on the site. Alterations were made to it in the 13th century and later. The chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
was probably rebuilt in the 19th century. The church was declared redundant on 1 March 1972, and was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Churches Conservation Trust on 21 May 1974.
Exterior
St Mary's is constructed in sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
rubble
Rubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
with sandstone ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
dressings. It is roofed in Welsh slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
with tiles on the crests. The plan is simple, consisting of a three-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
with a south porch, and a two-bay chancel. At the west end of the nave is a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d bellcote with two trefoil
Trefoil
Trefoil is a graphic form composed of the outline of three overlapping rings used in architecture and Christian symbolism...
ed openings which dates from the 13th century. The north side of the nave contains a blocked doorway with a lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
to its right and a trefoil-headed window to the left. In its south wall is one lancet window to the left of the porch and a double lancet to the right. In the north wall of the chancel are two lancet windows, and in the south wall is one lancet window and a pair of square-headed windows. The east window consists of three stepped lancets. The south doorway dates from the 12th century. It has a large lintel
Post and lintel
Post and lintel, or in contemporary usage Post and beam, is a simple construction method using a lintel, header, or architrave as the horizontal member over a building void supported at its ends by two vertical columns, pillars, or posts...
and a tympanum
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
decorated with lozenges.
Interior
The chancel arch dates from the 13th century. The fontBaptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
is from the 12th or 13th century and consists of a round bowl on a cylindrical base. The pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
is in oak and dates from the 17th century. There is stained glass in the east window. On the north wall are brass plaques to the memory of two local men killed in the First World War.
External features
In the churchyard are a cross and four monuments that are all designated as Grade II listed buildings. Only the steps and base of the churchyard cross remain. They are in sandstone and date possibly from the 14th century. There is a sandstone pedestalPedestal
Pedestal is a term generally applied to the support of a statue or a vase....
tomb from the late 18th century to the memory of two Knight sisters. Elsewhere are three limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
chest tombs in Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style. One is dated 1824 to the memory of Richard Payne Knight
Richard Payne Knight
Richard Payne Knight was a classical scholar and connoisseur best known for his theories of picturesque beauty and for his interest in ancient phallic imagery.-Biography:...
, who was an archaeologist, architect and writer. Near to this is the chest tomb of his brother, Thomas Andrew Knight
Thomas Andrew Knight
Thomas Andrew Knight, FRS was a horticulturalist and botanist who lived at Downton Castle, Herefordshire. He was the brother of Richard Payne Knight....
, dated 1838. He was an expert fruit grower who developed new varieties of apples. There is a further chest tomb to another Thomas Andrew Knight that is dated 1827.