CHURCH OF ST MARY

CHURCH OF ST MARY, HIGH STREET

Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places

Overview

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1089998
Date first listed:: 26-Nov-1958
List Entry Name:: CHURCH OF ST MARY
Statutory Address:: CHURCH OF ST MARY, HIGH STREET

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Date:: 2002-07-27
Reference:: IOE01/08401/07
Rights:: © Lorna Freeman. Source: Historic England Archive

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Official list entry

Heritage Category:: Listed Building
Grade:: I
List Entry Number:: 1089998
Date first listed:: 26-Nov-1958
List Entry Name:: CHURCH OF ST MARY
Statutory Address 1:: CHURCH OF ST MARY, HIGH STREET

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.

For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.

Understanding list entries

Corrections and minor amendments

Location

Statutory Address:: CHURCH OF ST MARY, HIGH STREET

The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.

County:: Gloucestershire
District:: Cotswold (District Authority)
Parish:: Fairford
National Grid Reference:: SP 15154 01169

Details

SP 1401-1501 FAIRFORD HIGH STREET

(west side)

13/141 Church of St. Mary

26.ll.58

GV I

Anglican parish church. Base of tower early C15, remainder completely rebuilt by John Tame and his son Edmund, from c1480 into early C16. Restored 1852 and 1890. An intact example of the Perpendicular style. Ashlar on moulded plinth with embattled parapet over string course and crocketed pinnacles between and in centre of bays, roofs not visible, presumably lead. Nave with clerestorey, chancel, with central tower and aisles running almost up to east end on both sides, single storey vestry on north side at east end, large south porch. Tower of 2 stages above clerestorey with string courses, corner buttresses with large carved figure to each, rising to twin pinnacles, and with pierced quatrefoil parapet. Belfry stage has 2 long trefoil head openings, blind at top and with belfry louvres below, with 2 niches between, one above the other. Lower stage has clock face to south and small trefoil head window to each face, with blind quatrefoil over except for south side. Aisles of 7 bays with 4-light windows with stepped buttresses between bays and carved heads on string course above each window and on hoodmould stops. Clerestorey has four 3-light windows with continuous dripmould. On south side, porch in bay 3 from west with large pointed archway and square hoodmould with carved spandrels and niche wth Virgin and Child over, panelled internal walls, fan vaulted ceiling and original studded oak door with postern set into it. West end has very large main window of 7 lights with 2 king mullions, and one transom with large cusped trefoil head lights below and cusped ogees above. Four-centred archway below with square hoodmould, quatrefoils and mouchettes in spandrels, and jamb colonettes. Flanking 5-light aisle windows also with transom, with cusped arches below transom. Five-light east window in similar style. Interior: 4-bay nave arcade with 16 shafts to piers, moulded ridge beam and principals supported on stone angel corbels. Octagonal font. Some early masonry survives in tower, with remains of wall paintings. Contemporary wood screens to choir, carved choir stalls with misericords probably brought from elsewhere. High Altar by Sir Ninian Comper, 1920. C12 lectern in south aisle chapel originally had chains and Matthews Bible of 1551, Bible and chains now removed for safe keeping. The stained glass forms an almost unique intact series of windows, c1500, painted largely by Barnard Flower, Henry VII's Master Glass Painter. The programme covers the Old and New Testaments and follows a carefully laid out scheme. Three monuments to the Tame family - chest to John Tame (died 1500) and his 2 wives, in Purbeck marble between the Choir and Lady Chapel, under the parclose screen. One floor and one wall brass to Edmund Tame (died 1534) within the Lady Chapel. Chest tomb to Roger Lygon and wife Katharine, widow of Sir Edmund Tame II, erected 1575, also in Lady Chapel. A detailed account of the interior and in particular of the stained glass is given in the local church guide, and in David Verey, The Buildings of England, Gloucestershire: the Cotswolds, 1979.

Listing NGR: SP1515401168

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:: 129697
Legacy System:: LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Guide to Church of St Mary Fairford
Verey, D , The Buildings of England: Gloucestershire 1 The Cotswolds, (1970)

Legal

This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.