Church Of The Holy Cross

ST 89 NE AVENING AVENING VILLAGE

3/11 Church of the Holy Cross 6.9.54

I

Church. Late Cll with later medieval additions (transepts probably of late C13) and restored in 1902 by John Micklethwaite. Rubble stone with some ashlar work in tower, Cotswold stone slate roof. Cruciform with 2-bay north aisle and 2-storey porch in north west corner. 3-stage embattled tower stepping in at each string course, with square clock faces to east and north set on diagonal, 2-light belfry windows on 2nd stage with hoodmould and decorative stops except for west side which has 2 blocked round arched openings cut into by nave roof. Complex buttressing to south east corner of tower. Chancel has decorative ball frieze under eaves; roof line has been lowered. Below 3-light east window on outer wall of chancel is finely carved commemorative stone set into wall with oval panel surmounted by an urn and drapery, inscription obliterated. Interior: Large Norman doorway inside porch has chevron arch supported on twisted shafts with carved capitals, with C16 doorway inserted. 2-bay Norman arcade has single large cylindrical pier with scalloped capital. West tower arch has Norman shafts but later pointed arch, chancel arch Norman with round arch and scalloped capitals. Early English transept arches with deep semi- circular windows above each. First bay of chancel is Norman with half roll ribs set on flat projection, remaining bays early C14 with ridge ribs and carved bosses. 2 blocked Norman windows in easternmost bay; tracery mainly Decorated except for C18 west window. Nave has C14 timber wagon roof. Nave altar on south side has holy table of 1657. East window by Clayton & Bell 1889, 2 nave windows c1908 by Christopher Whall. Many monuments in transepts. In north transept, kneeling effigy of Henry Brydges of Avening Court (q.v.), died 1615, and other C17 stone tablets and C18 and C19 marble. In south transept, series of C17 monuments to Driver family in vigorous style. (David Verey, Buildings of England, Gloucestershire: The Cotswolds 1979.)

Listing NGR: ST8795898002