Church Of St Barthelowmew

Church of St Bartholomew

This is a parish church of probably 13th-century date, with a tower and nave from that period. The chancel and transept were added in the 14th century, and a north aisle in the 15th century. A vestry was constructed in the mid-19th century. The church is constructed of rendered rubble, probably sandstone and limestone, with gable-ended slate roofs covering the nave, aisle, transept and vestry.

The plan comprises a nave, very shallow sanctuary, south transept, north aisle and a west tower, with the mid-19th-century vestry positioned at the west end of the north aisle.

The west tower is in two stages, unbuttressed and tapering, topped with battlements. It features a four-centred granite arched west doorway with hollow chamfer and ball stops. Above this is a three-light lancet window, possibly original, with granite framing and hoodmould. The belfry openings are two-light arches. On the north side of the tower are two small slit windows which light the internal stair. The tower has a chamfered plinth, and blocked single arched light windows survive on the east side at first-stage level.

The nave contains a tall early 16th-century three-light granite mullion window towards the west end, featuring a rebated frame with depressed arched heads to the lights and recessed spandrels, though the mullions have been renewed. A square hoodmould sits above. Towards the east end is a 19th-century three-light window in Bath stone with Perpendicular tracery and carved headstops to its hoodmould. Immediately to its right is a circa late 19th-century lean-to porch to the transept, which has a single-light cusped-head window in its side and a two-centre arched doorway at its front.

The south transept has a 19th-century Bath stone two-light window with Perpendicular tracery, and a similar-dated window with slightly simpler tracery on its east side. A circa late 19th or early 20th-century east window in Bath stone with three lights and Perpendicular tracery also lights the transept.

The north aisle windows are all three-light 19th and 20th-century restorations in Beer stone with Perpendicular tracery. According to a plaque inside, the east and west windows in the aisle were repaired and restored in 1938. Towards the west end of the aisle is a 15th-century granite doorway with a four-centred arch, chamfered with ball stops.

The mid-19th-century lean-to vestry at the west end of the aisle was erected by Reverend George Coleridge, vicar of Coffinswell from 1827 to 1847. It has a doorway to the left with an arched wooden doorframe and a four-light casement to the right with leaded panes. The vestry partially covers the blocked west window of the aisle.

Interior

The four-bay arcade to the north aisle features Pevsner type B Beer stone piers with foliage capitals. The westernmost pier is further decorated with several coats of arms referring to the Holbeame family and their connections with other families, suggesting that the aisle was erected by John Holbeame, a local gentleman who died in 1473. Moulding continues from the piers into the four-centred arches. The piers have square bases.

A very tall round-headed tower arch springs from chamfered impost stones. A similar arch serves the transept.

In the south wall of the sanctuary is a piscina with probably restored trefoil-headed opening. On the east wall of the sanctuary to the right of the window is an exposed small section of probably late 15th or early 16th-century wall painting, somewhat damaged, which appears to be in a fish-scale pattern with predominant colours of red and grey. Similar painting likely exists elsewhere in the church, concealed by plaster.

Plastered barrel ceilings to the nave and aisle are probably 19th-century restorations, although the one in the aisle may re-use some of the original moulded ribs.

A boarded screen to the tower arch is topped with late 17th or early 18th-century turned balusters, which may be the former altar rails. Hung on the screen are foot imprints with signatures of 19th-century plumbers, and some old framed deeds.

A circular Norman font with cable moulding at the top of the pedestal, with palmettes and a band of crosses saltire above, survives in the church.

The slate floor incorporates three early 18th and early to mid-19th century slate ledger-stones. On the south wall of the sanctuary is a slate memorial with moulded plaster surround to Thomas Parch, his wife Johanna and their sons Thomas and Zachariah, who died between 1706 and 1724.