Urishay Castle Chapel
Encyclopedia
Urishay Castle Chapel is a redundant chapel
to the north of Urishay Castle, some 2.5 kilometres (2 mi) west of the village of Peterchurch
in Herefordshire
, England . It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches
. The chapel is a Scheduled Monument, and is on the Heritage at Risk
Register.
of Urishay Castle. It is the earliest purpose-built chapel to a castle in Herefordshire. The nave
dates from the early 12th century, and an extension forming the chancel
was added in the late 12th century. Alterations were made to the chapel in the 16th and 17th centuries. In later years it had a number of uses, including being a blacksmith's forge,a carpenter's shop and a dog kennel.
By the early part of the 20th century it was a ruin. Following a report by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
some work was carried out and it was re-dedicated for public worship on 29 June 1914. However it was closed again in 1923. By 1949 it was again a ruin, with holes in the roof and leaning walls. In 1978 it was vested
in the charity
the Friends of Friendless Churches, its freehold being dated 26 July 1978. The charity carried out a programme of repairs which were completed in 2009, including rebuilding much of the walling, but the building is still only partly roofed. In 1914 traces of wall paintings were reported, but these have completely disappeared. In the 1980s evidence was found of a number of infant burials, although there have never been any adult burials in the chapel.
with a stone slate roof. It is in two cells, one forming the nave and and the other the chancel, each of which is of similar width; the chapel is otherwise featureless. A rendered
concrete block wall dating from the 1980s stands about 1 metres (3 ft) to the west of the chancel arch. In the north wall of the chancel are two doors, one added in the 20th century, and the other being an original priest's door with a semicircular head. In the north wall are two windows, one being small with a semicircular head, and the other larger with a square head, probably dating from the 17th century. The east wall contains a window with a four-centred head, probably from the early 16th century. In the north wall of the nave is a narrow square-headed window, and in the south wall is a window with a pointed head and a doorway with a semicircular head. The west wall contains two single-light windows at different heights. The fittings still present in the interior are an altar slab with five consecration
crosses, and the base of a 19th-century font
.
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...
to the north of Urishay Castle, some 2.5 kilometres (2 mi) west of the village of Peterchurch
Peterchurch
Peterchurch is a village and civil parish in the Golden Valley, Herefordshire, England, which has a Norman church, dedicated to St. Peter, built on the unusual basilica model with four, rather than three chambers. The church's foundations are thought to go back to 786, and parts of the Saxon walls...
in 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 Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches
Friends of Friendless Churches is a registered charity active in England and Wales. It campaigns for and rescues redundant historic churches threatened by demolition, decay, or inappropriate conversion. To that end, as of August 2010, it owns 43 former churches or chapels, 23 of which...
. The chapel is a Scheduled Monument, and is on the Heritage at Risk
Heritage at Risk
Heritage at Risk is a collective term applied to 'designated' heritage assets that are at risk as a result of neglect, decay or inappropriate development, or are vulnerable to becoming so.In England, an annual Heritage at Risk Register is published by English Heritage...
Register.
History
The chapel is built in the baileyMotte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
of Urishay Castle. It is the earliest purpose-built chapel to a castle in Herefordshire. The 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...
dates from the early 12th century, and an extension forming 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 added in the late 12th century. Alterations were made to the chapel in the 16th and 17th centuries. In later years it had a number of uses, including being a blacksmith's forge,a carpenter's shop and a dog kennel.
By the early part of the 20th century it was a ruin. Following a report by the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings
The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings was founded by William Morris, Philip Webb and J.J.Stevenson, and other notable members of the Pre Raphaelite brotherhood, in 1877, to oppose what they saw as the insensitive renovation of ancient buildings then occurring in Victorian...
some work was carried out and it was re-dedicated for public worship on 29 June 1914. However it was closed again in 1923. By 1949 it was again a ruin, with holes in the roof and leaning walls. In 1978 it 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 charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
the Friends of Friendless Churches, its freehold being dated 26 July 1978. The charity carried out a programme of repairs which were completed in 2009, including rebuilding much of the walling, but the building is still only partly roofed. In 1914 traces of wall paintings were reported, but these have completely disappeared. In the 1980s evidence was found of a number of infant burials, although there have never been any adult burials in the chapel.
Architecture
The chapel is constructed in stone rubbleRubble
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 a stone slate roof. It is in two cells, one forming the nave and and the other the chancel, each of which is of similar width; the chapel is otherwise featureless. A rendered
Stucco
Stucco or render is a material made of an aggregate, a binder, and water. Stucco is applied wet and hardens to a very dense solid. It is used as decorative coating for walls and ceilings and as a sculptural and artistic material in architecture...
concrete block wall dating from the 1980s stands about 1 metres (3 ft) to the west of the chancel arch. In the north wall of the chancel are two doors, one added in the 20th century, and the other being an original priest's door with a semicircular head. In the north wall are two windows, one being small with a semicircular head, and the other larger with a square head, probably dating from the 17th century. The east wall contains a window with a four-centred head, probably from the early 16th century. In the north wall of the nave is a narrow square-headed window, and in the south wall is a window with a pointed head and a doorway with a semicircular head. The west wall contains two single-light windows at different heights. The fittings still present in the interior are an altar slab with five consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
crosses, and the base of a 19th-century font
Baptismal 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:...
.