Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary, Kingskerswell

This parish church preserves a largely medieval fabric spanning from the 14th century onwards. The building underwent major restoration in 1874, which has affected much of its appearance, but its core structure and some significant original features remain.

The earliest evidence suggests a 14th-century foundation, with possibly C14 fabric surviving, notably in the south transept. In the early 15th century, the nave was reconstructed and the south aisle added, which partially enclosed the original transept. A 15th-century tower was built at this time. The late 15th and early 16th centuries saw the addition of the north aisle, which destroyed any surviving evidence of a north transept, and the construction of a two-storey north porch in the early 16th century. The rood screen was removed at the end of the 18th century, reportedly to Stover, though parts of its panelling are partly preserved in the chancel stalls.

The 1874 restoration was comprehensive. The chancel was heavily restored and the east window renewed. The nave was reroofed and six other windows were restored at the same time. The stone effigies were moved to their present positions in the north aisle during restorations in 1834 and 1874.

The exterior is mostly rendered, with walls of sandstone and limestone incorporating some Bathstone, granite, limestone and volcanic stone dressings. The roof is slate with gable ends.

The unbuttressed two-stage west tower is of particular note. It has a restored west doorway and a three-light Perpendicular window in Bath stone. On the north side is a demi-octagonal stair turret with an inserted pointed arched doorway. To its right on the first stage is a single-light trefoil-headed window.

The north aisle has 19th-century three and four-light Perpendicular restoration windows in Bath stone. The large two-storey north porch features a heavily moulded round-headed doorway above which sits a two-light mullion window with four-centred arched lights; both doorway and window are of limestone. A 19th-century stair turret projects from the west side of the porch. A narrow four-centred granite arched doorway is positioned towards the east end of the north aisle. The porch has a patterned cobbled floor and includes stone seats, a barrel roof, a four-centred arched Beer stone north doorway with chamfer and round moulding, and a contemporary heavy oak studded door. The old stocks are kept here.

The south aisle features an east window with a 15th-century granite rebated frame and volcanic stone tracery and hoodmould, though the mullions have been replaced in limestone. The south-east window of the south aisle appears to be completely 15th-century with granite frame and volcanic stone tracery. The transept window is slightly earlier with more intricate tracery, though still Perpendicular. The transept has 19th-century battlements. Other south aisle windows are 19th-century Perpendicular restorations.

The small south porch has been considerably restored, though some original fabric survives, including a four-centred red sandstone archway. The south doorway is also four-centred in limestone, partially restored. A probably 16th-century oak studded door with a central vertical rib remains. The porch has a cobbled floor dated 1719 with indistinct initials below.

The chancel projects from the aisles and has a five-light Perpendicular window of 1874.

The interior is dominated by two fine five-bay arcades of different date and style. The earlier south arcade features octagonal red sandstone piers with shallow moulded Beerstone capitals and chamfered four-centred red sandstone arches. The later 15th/early 16th-century north arcade is in Beerstone with Pevsner type-B piers, foliage capitals and moulded four-centred arches. There is no chancel arch; instead, a narrow pointed tower arch with chamfered imposts marks the transition. The transept has early Perpendicular blind arcading beneath its south window.

A piscina in the south wall of the chancel has a trefoil-headed opening. The font is 15th-century, octagonal stone with roll moulding at the top and base of the pedestal.

Three medieval stone effigies are preserved in the north aisle beneath the windows, reputed to represent Sir John Dinham and his two wives, suggesting a dating to circa early 14th century. The most easterly depicts a lady with a coronet and rich stomacher, her feet resting on a dog. The central effigy shows another lady with a stiff head-dress and feet resting on a wyvern, supported by four angels. The western effigy is of a knight in a pointed helmet, mail gorget and surcoat bearing the arms of Dinham, with an elaborately carved memorial featuring niches and figures at the front.

Fragments of old glass survive re-used in the upper lights of the east window and in the central south aisle window. The pulpit was brought from Bradford on Avon and presented in 1889.