Church Of St Andrew

Church of St Andrew

This is a parish church dating to the 15th century and substantially renovated in 1885–86 with the addition of a new north aisle. The 15th-century work consists of coursed blocks of volcanic trap with some red sandstone, featuring Beerstone ashlar detailing. The 1885–86 work is snecked red sandstone with Bathstone ashlar detail, all under a slate roof.

The church plan comprises a nave and chancel with north and south aisles (neither extending the full length of the building), a south porch, and a west tower. The west tower rises in two stages and is buttressed with set-back buttresses and an embattled parapet topped with corner pinnacles. On the north side stands a semi-hexagonal stair turret with an external doorway. The belfry windows contain Flamboyant tracery and are very weathered, suggesting they may be 15th-century work. The tower's west doorway is a two-centred arch with a moulded surround and hoodmould. The window above has lost its tracery and mullions.

The south aisle, dating to the 15th century, is distinguished by set-back buttresses and an embattled parapet over a moulded eaves cornice that includes carved gargoyles at intervals. The south porch, positioned left of centre, similarly features set-back buttresses and an embattled parapet, but here the merlins are pierced by quatrefoils. The outer arch is a depressed four-centred arch with a moulded surround and hood incorporating a carved angel holding armorial bearings at the apex. The porch roof is a Beerstone fan vault with cusped panels and a central carved boss featuring a Tudor Rose. The south doorway is a two-centred arch with a moulded surround and contains 19th-century double doors in Gothic style. Four windows are positioned on the south side: one to the left of the porch and three to the right. All are three lights with depressed four-centred arch heads and Perpendicular tracery. Similar three-light windows appear at each end. The break between the nave and chancel (or aisle and south chapel) is marked by a projecting semi-octagonal rood stair turret that rises above the aisle parapet and has its own embattled parapet. Alongside to the right is a small priest's doorway. The chancel's east window was rebuilt in the 19th century as a three-light window with Flamboyant tracery and a hoodmould.

The 19th-century north aisle features four-light windows with Flamboyant tracery at each end and three three-light windows on the north side with cusped Y-tracery.

Interior

The nave, north and south aisles, chancel, and tower are covered with ceiled wagon roofs with moulded ribs and purlins and carved oak bosses, all painted. It is therefore impossible to determine which, if any, are 15th-century work, though certainly the north aisle and tower roofs date to 1885–86. A tall plain tower arch opens from the tower. The 19th-century chancel arch features a moulded surround springing from moulded and carved corbels.

The south aisle contains a 15th-century Beerstone arcade of four bays (one overlapping the chancel), with moulded piers of Pevsner's type A and carved capitals. The north aisle has a 19th-century arcade of five bays (two overlapping the chancel) in the same style as the south arcade. In the south aisle is a small Beerstone doorway with a segmental head and moulded surround leading to the rood stair, which remains open. The walls are plastered and the floor comprises stone flags including some 18th-century grave slabs.

Most furniture and fittings are 19th-century. The altar is flanked by Gothic-style boards painted with the text of the Lord's Prayer. A 19th-century oak altar rail rests on wrought iron standards. There are no formal stalls. The plain pine lectern is probably 20th-century. A 19th-century oak pulpit with an octagonal drum features Gothic-style enrichment. The nave and aisles contain oak box pews, the finest made or remade with fielded panelling. Notably, the pulpit can only be reached through the squire's (Huish family) pew, an interesting sociological detail.

The Beerstone font is of indeterminate date but probably 19th-century, with an unembellished octagonal bowl on a plain octagonal stem. The ogee oak font cover dates to the 17th century. The chancel contains a notable group of marble mural memorials, principally commemorating members of the Huish family. The oldest is dated 1633, and the finest, on the north side, is dated 1764. The south aisle displays painted Commandment boards. The nave and aisles are fitted with 19th-century wrought iron lamp brackets.

The church contains good-quality 19th-century stained glass. The east window is signed E. Baillie, London, 1850, and unusually depicts the Huish arms rather than a Biblical scene, with particularly impressive glass in the mouchettes of the Flamboyant tracery.