Description

KILPECK CP KILPECK
SO 43 SW
2/37 Church of Saint Mary
26.1.67 and Saint David

GV I

Parish church. c1134 - 40, restored in 1848 by Lewis Cottingham and in 1864
when apse refaced; bellcote rebuilt and a former south porch removed; further
C20 restorations. Sandstone rubble with ashlar dressings and stone slate
roof. Nave with bellcote, chancel and apse (in decreasing width and height).
Nave: raised verges, pilaster buttresses and continuous corbel table decorated
with flat rope ornament and carved grotesque human and animal heads to corbels,
with "lamb of God" motif to corbel above doorway; semi-circular headed light
to right of south door; semi-circular headed of two richly ornate and moulded
orders, outer order with chevron ornament and grotesque beasts and fishes in
linked medallions, inner order with similar radially arranged animal heads,
curious beasts and fishes, and beakheads; Tree of Life motif to tympanum.
Jambs of two orders with outer attached shafts decorated with twisting serpents
and inner shaft to left with two warrior-type figures entwined in vine, the
shaft to the right has twisting vine and palmette motifs. The north side of
the nave has three similar pilaster buttresses and decorated corbel table, one
central semi-circular headed light and an ogee headed light to the east; the
west end of the nave has pilaster buttresses and again the continuous decorated
corbel table, with three protruding dragon heads at the junction of the corbel
tablewith the buttresses. Semi-circular headed window with entwined interlacing
and ornament to attached shafts of jambs and to head. Chancel: trefoil headed
window with label and head stops to left of doorway with 2-centred head with
moulded jambs and label; similar window to north side; pilaster buttresses,
partly defaced corbels to corbel label which continues around chancel and apse
with zig-zag and rope ornmanet, primitive heads and animals and one corbel
with curious fertility symbol (sheila-na-gig); "Lamb of God" at east end and
string course interrupts pilaster buttresses to apse; three semi-circular
headed windows with moulded jambs to east end of apse. Interior: C19 trussed
rafer roof to nave and chancel. Chancel arch, semi-circular headed of two
moulded orders, outer order enriched with chevron ornament and the inner with
lozenges and pellets. The label also has chevron ornmanet, two orders to the
responds with inner plain and outer carved with male figures representing
the fathers of the church; carved and draped figures, three to each side and
each standing above the other, holding attributes. Semi-circular head arch
to apse of two plain orders. Ribbed vault to apse with zig-zag ornament
to ribs and central boss with group of three grotesque heads. Moulded reveals
to windows and grouped attached shafts to walls with cushion capitals and ribs
rising above these. Fittings: Font: late C12 or early C13. Large circular
bowl with curved sides supported on four slender circular piers with moulded
bases and scrolled,or foliated capitals, further supported by central C20 stem
and set on C20 plinth. Late C12 stoup in chancel with curious round bowl
encircled by human arms and hands, with hemi-spherical base encircled by
serpents extending downwards. Mid-C17 gallery at west end of nave with moulded
cross-beam supported on four columns with simple moulded capitals and bases
and surmounted by balustrade with turned balusters and moulded rail. Access
to rear by C18 staircase with turned balusters. (RCHM, Vol I, p 156-158;
BoE, p 201-202; Little, Bryan: Architecture in Norman Britain, London, 1985,
pp 134-136, ills 76, 77 & 79. See also Zaenecki, George: Latin English Romanesque
Sculpture, 1140 - 1210, London, 1953, esp pp 10-12).

Listing NGR: SO4451130516

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck at Wikipedia
• Church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck official website
• Wikidata Q3585627

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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