Church Of St Mary

FRETHERNE WITH SAUL FRETHERNE SO 70 NW 5/169 Church of St. Mary 10.1.55 GV II* Anglican church. Rebuilt 1847, on site of C13 church, by Francis Niblett enlarged 1857-9 by J.W. Hugall; commissioned by Darell family. Brown sandstone, with pinkish ashlar limestone dressings, roof mainly in decorative fishscale pattern tiles, with decorative ridge tiles, pierced parapets of varying designs, raised coped verges with cross finials, and crocketed corner pinnacles to east; south side of nave in plain tiles, south aisle in stone slates. Nave with aisles, west corner of north aisle forming porch with tower over, 2 south chapels and small south-east vestry. Decorated style. Tower of 3 stages with stepped angle buttresses, surmounted by steep gablets at second stage flanking clock face in carved surround on north face, 2-light double tier belfry louvres on top stage on each face. Corners have crocketed pinnacles with small flying buttresses to crocketed octagonal spire. Steep gable over porch with angel corbels and angel in apex niche, stepped pointed arched doorway with elaborate wrought iron gates across door panelled in Decorated style. Windows mostly 2 or 3-light, with stepped buttresses between. Chapel to south-west is gabled; to south east with parapet and pinnacles, rose window to south and large sculpted angels flanking 4-light to east. Chancel 3-light east window has elaborately carved ogee hoodmould with pinnacles and angel stops. Priest's door to north-east and door to chapel on south-west both have decorative wrought iron grilles. Interior: generally highly decorative with coloured and encaustic floor tiles, painted roof, and painting and gilding on stonework. Nave of 4 bays has arch-braced collar beams with pierced cusped decoration above collar beam, 4-bay arcade to south with all piers different, 2-bay to north, all pointed arches. Two clerestory roof lights close to chancel arch are jettied out as oriels into internal roof space. Chapel to south west has trefoil arcading under south window and C13 coffin lids on floor. Elaborately carved wooden pulpit hood and stone font hood. Glass mainly by George Rogers of Worcester 1859. (David Verey, Buildings of England: Gloucestershire, the Vale and the Forest of Dean, 1980; VCH, Gloucestershire, Vol X, 1972)

Listing NGR: SO7337209157