Church Of St Edward The Confessor

Church of St Edward the Confessor

This parish church was built in 1902–3 by Randall Wells for Lord Beauchamp. It is constructed of roughly squared red stone with white ashlar dressings to the main windows, and has a pantile roof. The building comprises a nave and chancel, a north tower over a porch, a vestry, chapel and store.

The north elevation forms the main entrance front. The tower sits right of centre, with a recessed surround to the doorway topped by a four-sided head and relieving arch voussoirs above. Above this is a recessed arch with roll moulding to its edge and nearly semi-circular head with radiating voussoirs, containing a low relief figure of Christ against a background of cross, vine and grapes. Twin lancet windows sit above with stone louvres and slightly projecting triangular heads with radiating voussoirs, and a slit in the apex of the gable. The parapet is gabled. The left and right returns each have two paired louvred lancets with low triangular heads immediately below a slightly projecting eaves course. To the right is a low, slightly set-back section with a two-light mullioned window with flat head and leaded lights, a slightly projecting eaves course and parapet gable. To the left, flush with the tower, is a similar window followed by a triangular buttress, then a similar three-light window and single light with another triangular buttress between them, and a slightly scalloped projecting eaves course.

The east end has two gables, the lower one on the right with a slit window and scattered projecting stones, topped with a small stone cross. On the left is a large recess with a polygonal top containing low relief carving of Christ on the cross with Saint Mary and Saint John, with a slightly projecting head and relieving arch above. Scattered projecting stones run up the line of the gable, and a small stone cross sits on the apex. A large stone bowl serves as a rain-water head between the gables.

The south side has a low wall with four triangular buttresses. Near the right end is a mansard gable with triple projecting verge and a pair of triangular-headed windows. A projecting stone on the right has a groove in its top, and there is a plain projecting eaves course.

The west wall's main feature is a right gable with a great window of triangular head, plain hoodmould and radiating voussoirs above, infilled with a diagonal stone grille. To its left is a stone bowl as rain-water head, followed by a smaller gable slightly set back with a boarded door on its right having slightly inclined jambs, and parapets to both gables.

The porch has a stone paved floor with a bench on the right. A double door leads to the church, each leaf a single board with iron hinges and flat head; the sides are slightly inclined at the top with roll moulding to the arris. On the left is a boarded door in a chamfered surround. A moulded string course runs along the wall above, with the wall painted above. Above the double door is a shallow recess with scalloped edge containing a low relief figure of Virgin and Child, with an angled slit to the north-west on the right.

The interior forms a five-bay church, structurally undivided, with two bays forming the chancel. The walls are painted stone with collar and scissor-braced trusses. There are two pairs of purlins with curved braces between them and a square ridge. The rood screen has a lower collar with straight bracing above and below, its upper collar forming a cross-piece containing carved and painted figures of Christ, Saint John and Saint Mary. Low relief carving on the truss depicts tendrils, fruit and leaves with chamfered arrisses as on waggon sides, all coloured.

A semi-circular headed piscina is set into the wall. A door and window to the chapel, both with polygonal heads, sit on the left. The chapel has painted stone walls, a moulded stone cornice and a pointed concrete barrel vault with a slight ridge along the centre of each side. There is a central tie beam and a trefoil head to the east slit window.

A semi-octagonal pulpit incorporates reused Jacobean panels with spiral columns on panelled bases either side, flanking a communion table with acanthus consoles above carrying a canopy with timber cornice. Oak pews have simply-shaped ends. A circular stone font with a wavy edge to its bowl stands on a moulded stem and base.

The pews were made by Gloucester Joinery Company. Ironwork was created by S. Smallman, the local blacksmith. Stone carving was executed by W. James, except over the entrance where it was done jointly with Randall Wells. The roof was originally stone slate.

The church forms a group with the Lych Gate. Originally built as a chapel-of-ease to St Mary's, Kempley, it became a parish church in the late 20th century.