Description

GRADE-RUAN
SW 71 SW
9/2 Church of St Grade
10 7 57
I
Parish church. Tower circa 1400. C13 and C14 nave and chancel rebuilt in 1862 incor-
porating some remains of earlier fabric. Rubble stone with large ashlar blocks of
granite and serpentine in the tower. Separate steeply pitched roofs to nave, chancel,
vestry and south porch. Stylistically early Decorated. East window, 3-light with
Geometric tracery. North wall, two 2-light windows with small trefoil above. South
wall with narrow trefoil-headed lancet near chancel with 2 cusped lights under
segmental arches flanking south porch. South door with C14 pointed arch from earlier
church. West tower of 2 stages, unbuttressed and battlemented with crocketted
finials. 3-centred moulded arch to west door. Perpendicular 3-light west window. 2-
light belfry. Vestry and organ projection on north wall under steeply pitched roof
with asymmetrical gable end. Exposed collar rafter roof with braces. Pointed white-
washed brick chancel arch. Simple mid-C19 pine benches. Mid C19 brick sedilia and
piscina (whitwashed). Circa C13 granite font on square base with octagonal shaft and 4
columns. Bow ornamented on 4 faces with emblem and monogram of Virgin Mary, shallow
carved stars. Band of quatrefoils at base. On floor at east end of nave, brass
commemorating James Ensey and his wife Margaret. Dated 1522. Moved from floor of
south transept. Includes effigies of both, former in plate armour over hauberk.
Below are figures of 10 children and inscription. At angles of slab 4 shields of
arms; chevron between 3 escutcheons, each chaged with a griffin segreant. Also 2
marble mural tablets fixed to inner south wall of tower; to memory of Richard Ensey,
1772. Broken pediment with heraldic shield. Below inscription flanked by pilasters
With base supported on corbels. Second tablet to Armiger Ensey (died 8 9 1692) and
wife Marie (died July 1699). Inscription in rectangular frame with arms surrounded by
foliage below. Slate slab on exterior north wall of chancel, dated 1671 to Hugh Mason.
Large coat of arms in centre with inscription below. 3 Bells; 1832 by Copperhouse
Hale, 1618 unknown and 1500 - 10 by T Bullisdon all in original bellframe. Source:
Kelly's Directory 1889. Schedule of Bells for Preservation 23 December 1978. H B Walter

Listing NGR: SW7122214305

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Grada and Holy Cross Church, Grade at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7593285

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.

Recommended Books

• 
  Cambridgeshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Norfolk 1: Norwich and North-East: Norwich and North-east v. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Setting up a Listed Building Heritage Partnership Agreement: Historic England Advice Note 5
• 
  Drawing up a Local Listed Building Consent Order: Historic England Advice Note 6
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Period Property Manual (New Ed)