Church of St Matthew

Details

WINCHESTER

869/11/285 STOCKBRIDGE ROAD 24-MAR-50 (Northeast side) CHURCH OF ST MATTHEW (Formerly listed as: STOCKBRIDGE ROAD CHURCH OF ST MARY)

II

Very small aisleless church, end on to the Stockbridge Road. S doorway and chancel arch C12, C16 or C17 roof; windows probably C17, C19 chancel restoration.

MATERIALS: Rendered externally with freestone quoins exposed, except for the C19 vestry which is stone rubble. Tiled roof. Bell turret weatherboarded.

PLAN: Nave and chancel only with W end bell turret projecting through the W end of the nave; W end gallery containing the organ; S porch, NE vestry.

EXTERIOR: The S wall is blind W of the gabled porch, which has a narrow inner doorway with a plain round-headed arch, the responds with hollow-chamfered capitals and a C17 door with cover strips and studs. The S wall of the nave has one C19 or early C20 2-light square-headed window with depressed ogee heads to the lights and one 2-light mullioned window, probably C17 with two similar in the chancel S wall. The E window has 3 cusped lights in a square-headed frame. The N side has 2 square-headed high-set windows, one may be medieval and a roof dormer lighting the gallery. The W end has a 3-light mullioned square-headed mullioned window with hoodmould and a small rectangular window above. The belfry has a pyramidal tiled roof with weathervane.

INTERIOR: Double-chamfered chancel arch on chamfered responds. Rustic collar rafter nave roof, probably C16 or later with moulded wallplates, tall ashlar pieces, one tier of trenched purlins and windbraces. There is evidence that it was formerly plastered over. The timber-framed bell turret is supported only by posts that descend to the floor of the c. early C19 gallery, which is supported on one cast iron post and has a front with sunk panels and a narrow stick baluster staircase in the SW corner of the church. C19 scissor-braced chancel roof, ceiled with diagonal boards. Probably early C20 reredos with panels of flamboyant blind tracery. There are fragments of C15 stained glass in the E window which is recessed behind a moulded internal segmental-headed arch. The chancel has a couple of medieval floor tiles including lettering. Font with plain octagonal stone bowl on a cylindrical stem, probably C19. C19 square-headed bench ends to nave with sunk panels and a roll-moulded tops. 1940s choir stalls; balustraded timber pulpit dated 1943. Several wall monuments and one small C15 brass figure of St Christopher.

SUMMARY OF IMPORTANCE: The Church of St Matthew, Stockbridge Road, is of special interest as a very small aisleless village church with some C12 fabric remaining and with a C16 or early C17 nave ceiling and C17 windows and door. The fragments of medieval glass and tiles add to the significance of the church, as does the C15 brass of St Christopher. The simple design of the early C19 gallery and C19 pews complements the medieval fabric of the church.

SOURCES: Pevsner, The Buildings of England, Hampshire, 1967, pp 692-693. The Rector and Churchwardens, The Church of Lawrence-in-the-Square, Winchester, n.d.

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

144864

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Pevsner, N, The Buildings of England: Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, (1967), 692-693

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