Church Of St Andrew

Church of St Andrew

Parish church, largely rebuilt in 1867–68 by architect F R Kempson, with the exception of the west tower which may date from the 13th century. The church is designed in High Victorian Gothic in the Early English style.

The building is constructed of sandstone rubble and squared sandstone rubble with Bath stone dressings, and has Welsh slate roofs. The plan comprises a west tower, a two-bay nave with north porch, and a two-bay chancel with north vestry.

The west tower is in two stages, the upper one slightly recessed above two string courses. The upper stage displays one 19th-century chamfered lancet with a trefoil panel to the base on each face except the east. This 19th-century window has a two-centred head with two trefoil-headed lights and quatrefoil tracery, with a moulded label bearing foliated stops. The tower is topped by a 19th-century pyramidal roof with a wrought iron weathercock.

The north elevation of the nave has a chamfered plinth and one trefoil-headed light on each side of a softwood gabled porch. The porch features trefoil-headed elm panels, scissor braces and a gable cross. The nave's south doorway has a chamfered two-centred head with pyramidal stops to the jambs, and a ledged door with ornate strap hinges.

The vestry attached to the chancel displays a small trefoil-headed light to the right of its doorway, which has a shouldered head with pyramidal stops to the feet of the jambs, a ledged door and enriched strap hinges. The vestry has a chimney stack with an octagonal shaft.

The east elevation of the chancel shows three stepped chamfered lancets, each with a moulded label and four foliated stops, with the inner pair positioned between the central and outer heads. A central vent loop is situated above. The gable features a verge, kneelers and a cross. The vestry to the right has one small trefoil-headed light.

The south elevation displays a pair of trefoil-headed lights to the right-hand side of the chancel and a similar single light to the left. The nave has a weathered buttress to the right-hand side and two windows, each comprising two lancets separated by an octagonal moulded shaft, around which is a trefoil and a semi-circular label with foliated stops.

Interior

The interior features wagon roofs throughout. The chancel roof is panelled, while the nave roof is open with scissor struts above the ties. The chancel has inner window arches that die into the jambs. A trefoiled-headed aumbry is set in the north wall, and a low double chamfered two-centred arch, also dying into the jambs, opens into the vestry. Above the head of the east window is a painted inscription reading: HOLY HOLY HOLY LORD GOD OF HOSTS.

A brass plaque on the south wall, dated 1897, commemorates Rowland Mucklestone, rector for 43 years, recording that "By his efforts this Church was restored and the Rectory built". Two large brass 19th-century oil lamps are displayed.

The nave has similar inner window arches to those of the chancel and a chamfered two-centred 19th-century tower arch above which hangs a G III R hatchment dated 1820. The eastern window of the south wall contains stained glass depicting two soldiers inscribed "VALOUR" and "FORTITUDE". On the left reveal of this window is a small brass Roll of Honour bearing the names of five men, probably from the parish who fell in World War II. Between the south windows stands a monument with a brass cross set as if on steps, featuring red and black incised lettering on a black marble background. Two oil lamps matching those in the chancel are present.

The tower contains a font, probably of the 15th century, with an octagonal base, stem and bowl. Several wall monuments dating from the late 18th century to mid-19th century include one for the Reverend Francis Brickenden, who died in 1799, executed by Davies of Hereford, featuring a draped urn and cornice above the inscription panel and apron.

To the north of the tower is the headstone of Bertie Davies, who was aged 13 when he died.