Church Of St Margaret

Church of St Margaret

This church on the north side of Lewknor High Street dates from the late 12th century, with major additions and restorations spanning six centuries. It comprises a chancel, nave with north chapel and south aisle with porch, and a west tower. The chancel and south aisle were probably built in the early 14th century for Sir John de Lewknor, the vestry and tower date from the 15th century, and the chancel was restored in 1845 by James Johnson with the nave restored in 1863 by Arthur Blomfield.

The exterior is built of flint rubble with limestone ashlar dressings, topped by a gabled mid-19th century tile roof. The chancel features an early 14th century five-light east window with a mid-19th century light above, flanked by offset buttresses. Similar buttresses and two-light windows punctuate the three-bay side walls. The 15th century vestry adjoins the north chapel and has square-headed one-light windows with a parapet. The north chapel contains blocked late 12th century pointed-arched openings, a blocked 17th century round-headed doorway, and a blocked 15th century two-light window, with mid-19th century three-light windows in the side walls and parapet.

The three-bay nave north wall has two-light plate tracery windows by Blomfield, a late 12th century lancet to the west bay, and a mid-19th century corbel table. The south wall similarly has a late 12th century lancet and 12th century corbel table in the west bay. The early 14th century south aisle contains two-light windows and a three-light east window. The south porch displays mid-19th century carving of the Lamb of God over a pointed double-chamfered doorway, with an early 14th century pointed moulded south doorway leading to a 19th century plank door.

The two-stage west tower has offset corner buttresses, one- and two-light windows, a north-east stair turret, and an embattled parapet. A three-light west window with restored mullions sits above a 15th century doorway with face-masks to label stops and a 19th century double-leaf door with 12th century crescent hinges.

The interior of the chancel contains an early 14th century piscina, three sedilia, and a tomb recess with recumbent effigy of a lady—all featuring very elaborate flowing tracery with crocketed canopies and finials. Early 17th century alabaster effigies of William Deane (died 1621) and his wife, and Sir Thomas Fleetwood (died 1629) and his wife, were reset at the west end of the chancel in 1845. A fine wall monument to John Scrope (died 1752) has a marble bust set in an aedicule with open pediment. A brass to John Aldebourne, priest, dates to around 1380. The chancel has a three-bay arch-braced roof of 1845.

The early 12th century chancel arch displays zig-zag mouldings and engaged shafts with crocketed capitals, with its impost moulding continued as a string course along the north and part of the south walls of the nave. An early 12th century arch opens to the north transept. The nave contains a pulpit by Blomfield, mid-19th century pews and roof, and a medieval iron-bound parish chest. An early 14th century three-bay arcade of double-chamfered arches on octagonal piers leads to the south aisle, which features a cinquefoil-headed piscina, moulded string course, a fine 12th century font with linked roundel decoration, and 18th century wall tablets.

The north chapel contains a large marble monument to Sir Paul Jodrell (died 1728) and family. A monument to Richard Paul Jodrell (died 1831) has a marble sarcophagus and fine carvings of angels with wreaths by P. Bazzanti of Florence, dated 1833. A recumbent effigy of Reverend Sir Edward Repps Jodrell (died 1882) by Sir J.E. Boehm features revealed panels with relief panels of angels and evangelists. The chapel has 19th century dado panelling and a wrought-iron gate in the north archway. A 15th century archway opens to the west tower, which has a 15th century doorway and studded door with decorative iron hinges.

The stained glass includes an east window by Hardman. The chancel windows to the north-east (1873) and south-east (1876) are by William Morris and were first used at Llandaff in 1869.