Congregational Church Including Front Railings, Gate And Cobbled Surface Adjoining To South

SS 80 SW SANDFORD CHURCH STREET (north side), Sandford

3/224 Congregational Church including front railings, gate and cobbled surface adjoining to south

GV II

Congregational Church. 1848 according to datestone. Snecked volcanic stone with Beer stone dressings. Large gable-ended building housing the church to the front with 2-storey meeting rooms behind and vestibule and porch projecting from south front. Vestibule is a small gable-ended block, running across the buttresses rising as high and large square-sectioned, flanking standards with gabled heads; the right-hand buttress includes a Beer stone plaque inscribed 'Jas. Parish Buller, 1848'. Large arch-headed porch door with hoodmould contains studded oak door with ornate Gothick strap hinges. Vestibule has small arch-headed windows, one each side of porch. 3-window south front over porch comprising large Beer stone lancets. Each has hoodmould with inverted bell-shaped labels and has multi-paned cast iron frames with interlace heads. Diagonal buttresses each side and Beer stone coping to relatively low pitch roof. Each long side has 3 full-height arch- headed lancets with cast iron frames, and rear elevation has 3 arch-headed windows similar to front. Mostly original interior to church. 2 arch-headed doors from entrance lobby. Roof hidden by C20 ceiling. Canted, panelled gallery projecting from north wall with round-headed alcove, containing organ. It is flanked by large panels containing painted ribbon tenets framed by pilasters and simple entablature. Contemporary rostrum, communion rails and pews. Front (south) graveyard is enclosed by contemporary railings. They are set on volcanic footings and comprise heavy, square-sectioned uprights with large unusual spear heads. On south-east side there are large, square-sectioned volcanic ashlar gate-posts with pyramid caps iron gates and a wrought iron over-throw decorated with scrolls and clasping a lantern. A stone pier similar to gate post at south-west. Well- preserved Congregational Church and unusual in being situated next to the Parish Church.

Listing NGR: SS8283502503