Church Of St Grade

GRADE-RUAN SW 71 SW 9/2 Church of St Grade 10 7 57 I Parish church. Tower circa 1400. C13 and C14 nave and chancel rebuilt in 1862 incor- porating some remains of earlier fabric. Rubble stone with large ashlar blocks of granite and serpentine in the tower. Separate steeply pitched roofs to nave, chancel, vestry and south porch. Stylistically early Decorated. East window, 3-light with Geometric tracery. North wall, two 2-light windows with small trefoil above. South wall with narrow trefoil-headed lancet near chancel with 2 cusped lights under segmental arches flanking south porch. South door with C14 pointed arch from earlier church. West tower of 2 stages, unbuttressed and battlemented with crocketted finials. 3-centred moulded arch to west door. Perpendicular 3-light west window. 2- light belfry. Vestry and organ projection on north wall under steeply pitched roof with asymmetrical gable end. Exposed collar rafter roof with braces. Pointed white- washed brick chancel arch. Simple mid-C19 pine benches. Mid C19 brick sedilia and piscina (whitwashed). Circa C13 granite font on square base with octagonal shaft and 4 columns. Bow ornamented on 4 faces with emblem and monogram of Virgin Mary, shallow carved stars. Band of quatrefoils at base. On floor at east end of nave, brass commemorating James Ensey and his wife Margaret. Dated 1522. Moved from floor of south transept. Includes effigies of both, former in plate armour over hauberk. Below are figures of 10 children and inscription. At angles of slab 4 shields of arms; chevron between 3 escutcheons, each chaged with a griffin segreant. Also 2 marble mural tablets fixed to inner south wall of tower; to memory of Richard Ensey, 1772. Broken pediment with heraldic shield. Below inscription flanked by pilasters With base supported on corbels. Second tablet to Armiger Ensey (died 8 9 1692) and wife Marie (died July 1699). Inscription in rectangular frame with arms surrounded by foliage below. Slate slab on exterior north wall of chancel, dated 1671 to Hugh Mason. Large coat of arms in centre with inscription below. 3 Bells; 1832 by Copperhouse Hale, 1618 unknown and 1500 - 10 by T Bullisdon all in original bellframe. Source: Kelly's Directory 1889. Schedule of Bells for Preservation 23 December 1978. H B Walter

Listing NGR: SW7122214305