Church Of St Matthew

SK 21 SW HARLASTON C.P. MAIN ROAD (North-west side)

2/62 Church of St. Matthew 27.2.63 GV II*

Parish church. Mainly 1882-3 by Ewan Christian but retains some early C13 work. Red brick and some C13 coursed and squared sandstone blocks; plain tile roof with crested ridge tiles. West tower, 3-bay nave, 2-bay chancel and north-east vestry. West tower: early C13 with C19 restoration; one stage with hipped roof surmounted by a timber framed bell turret with pyramidal roof; C13 lancet windows to north and south, C19 east window in a C15 style, 3 cinquefoil arched lights with pierced spandrels beneath a square head. Nave: Decorated style windows of 2 trefoil arched lights with quatrefoil over, beneath a segmental pointed arch, the north-west window has 3 cinquefoil arched lights; pointed south doorway with double ogee moulded surround and hood mould, gabled timber-framed porch with shaped barge boards and traceried open panels. Chancel: stone plinth probably comprised of re-used C13 stonework; north and south windows similar to those of the nave, pointed east window of 3 lights and reticu- lated tracery, hood mould terminating in heads. Vestry: Caernarvon arch door to the north and lateral stack to the west of it; east window similar to those of nave and chancel, single-light west window with trefoil arched light under a segmental pointed head. Interior: C13 tower arch, pointed and double chamfered; 2 massive medieval timber framed trusses supporting the west turret, each has a pair of quasi-aisle posts, tie beam and arch braces, the inner face of each post has a chamfered fillet; segmental arch on the north side of the chancel, pointed vestry door immediately east of it. Fittings: C19 circular stone font, the pedestal has 4 nook shafts with moulded bases and capitals. Monuments: tablet to Anne Lady Egerton, died 1726, open base pediment, foliated scrolls to the sides and cherub's head to the bottom; Webb family tablet, circa 1840, egg and dart frieze; table to William Darlaston Webb, died 1863, the base has a frieze with inlaced pattern, surmounted by a heraldic frieze flanked by scrolls. Stained glass: good east window of 1894 depicting the ascension. Photograph at the west end of the nave taken prior to the restoration of 1883. B.o.E. p. 142.

Listing NGR: SK2150210957