History

Early religious site, in use since at least the early Medieval period and probably earlier. The present church consists of a continuous nave and chancel with S chapel and S porch additions. The nave is likely to be C13 or C14, though nothing diagnostic survives to allow more accurate dating; the chancel was added or rebuilt in the C15 and the S chapel in the early C16. The wide porch is probably contemporary with this, despite its earlier appearance; the roof includes some recycled timbers. Extensive restoration was carried out in 1842 and included re-roofing in slate (presumably replacing thatch), as well as the replacement, in a bizarre mixture of neo-Norman and Perpendicular styles, of all the windows with the exception of that at the N end of the S chapel's E wall.

Exterior

Rubble construction with rough-dressed gritstone quoins; steeply-pitched slate roof with plain gable crosses to E and S gables. Tall bellcote to W end, corbelled out slightly and with arched bell-opening inscribed 'T 1842 E' above; stone pyramidal capping with surmounting sculpted cross. Beneath the bell-opening, a primitive Crucifixion panel in shallow relief contained within a shallow niche. Triple-light leaded W window with cusped arched heads; shallow returned label with octagonal shaped stops. Three similar 2-light windows to the N side and a further window to the S side to the R of the porch. This has broad flanking walls supporting a slated roof with a wide segmental-arched pegged truss to the opening; slate-flagged floor and plain rubble wall benches. Deeply-recessed inner entrance with slightly-pointed arch; C18/C19 boarded and studded door. The S chapel has its E wall set back slightly from the plane of the chancel E wall. It has a post-Reformation 2-light slate mullioned window with C19 pegged oak, arched frame. To the L, a 2-light C19 window as before, and beyond this, a length of timber is visible in the wall at head height, suggesting a former entrance in this position. C19 3-light mullioned window as before to S gable. The chancel E window is neo-Norman and has a round-arched, roll-moulded opening with flanking columns and foliated cushion capitals.

Interior

Slate flagged floor to continuous nave and chancel; arched-braced collar truss roof with 20 clustered trusses. Plain C19 box pews banked towards W end; C18 wooden box pulpit with stepped access and bearing inscribed initials LBR; plain handrail and balusters. Reading desk in front with 3 raised panels flanked by octagonal pilasters and bearing the initials JER and the date 1724. Early Medieval (C13?) cylindrical stone font with retooled round base and modern pedestal. C18 turned oak communion rails and re-located sections of C18 panelling to chancel. Twin-arched entrance to S chapel, with octagonal dividing pier; simple chamfered base and capital. 2-bay arched-braced collar truss roof with 2 tiers of cusped windbraces. C19 stained glass panel of Christ to E window.

Reasons for Listing

Listed Grade II* for its special interest as a Medieval parish church retaining much of its historic and architectural character.

External Links

• Cadwr Listing
• Wikidata Q17744338

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

• 
  Gwent/Monmouthshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of Wales)
• 
  Hertfordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Development and Design of Heritage Sensitive Sites: Strategies for Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas
• 
  The Listed Buildings and Other Principal Structures at the Royal Gunpowder Mills Waltham Abbey