Church of St Edward the Confessor

Details

KEMPLEY KEMPLEY VILLAGE SO 62 NE

8/135 Church of St. Edward the Confessor

GV II*

Parish church. 1902-'3, by Randall Wells for Lord Beauchamp. Roughly squared stone, ashlar dressings, stone generally red, white for main windows; pantile roof. Nave and chancel, north tower over porch, vestry, chapel and store. North, entrance elevation: tower right of centre: recessed surround to doorway, 4-sided head, relieving arch voussoirs over. Above with recess, roll moulding to edge, nearly semi-circular head, radiating voussoirs over, containing low relief figure of Christ, against background of cross, vine and grapes. Twin lancets above, stone louvres, slightly projecting triangular heads, radiating voussoirs above: slit in apex of gable. Parapet gable. Left and right returns, 2 paired lancets, louvred, low, triangular heads, immediately below slightly-projecting eaves course. To right, low, slightly set back; 2-light mullioned window, flat head, leaded lights: slightly- projecting eaves course: parapet gable. To left, flush with tower: similar window, triangular buttress, similar 3-light window and single light, with triangular buttress between: slightly scalloped projecting eaves course. East end: 2 gables, lower on right, with slit window, scattered projecting stones, small stone cross on gable. Large stone bowl as rain-water head between gables. On left, large recess with polygonal top; low relief Christ on the cross with St. Mary and St. John: head slightly projecting, relieving arch over. Scattered projecting stones up line of gable, parapet, small stone cross on apex. South side, low wall, 4 triangular buttresses; near right end mansard gable with triple projecting verge, pair triangular-headed windows; projecting stone on right with groove in top: plain projecting eaves course. West wall, main, right gable with a great window, with triangular head, plain hoodmould, radiating voussoirs above, infilled diagonal stone grille. To left, stone bowl as rain-water head: smaller gable slightly set back: boarded door on right, slightly inclined jambs; parapets to both gables. Interior: porch: stone paved floor, bench on right. Double door to church, each leaf a single board, iron hinges, flat head, sides slightly inclined at top: roll moulding to arris. On left boarded door in chamfered surround. Moulded string course, wall painted above. Above double door shallow recess with scalloped edge, Virgin and Child in low relief: slit angled to north-west on right. Five bay church, structurally undivided: 2 bays chancel. Painted stone walls, collar, scissor-braced trusses, 2 pairs purlins with curved braces between, square ridge. Rood screen lower collar with straight bracing above and below, upper collar cross-piece of cross: carved, painted figures of Christ, St. John and St. Mary. Low relief carving on truss of tendrils, fruit and leaves, with chamfered arrisses as on waggon sides, all coloured. Semi-circular headed piscina. On left door and window to chapel, with polygonal heads. Chapel painted stone walls, moulded stone cornice, pointed concrete barrel vault with slight ridge along centre of each side. Central tie beam: trefoil head to east slit window. Semi-octagonal pulpit, with reused Jacobean panels; spiral columns on panelled bases either side communion table, acanthus consoles over carrying canopy with timber cornice. Simply-shaped ends to oak pews. Circular stone font, wavy edge to bowl, on stem with moulded base. Pews by Gloucester Joinery Company, ironwork by S. Smallman, the local blacksmith, stone carving by W. James, save over entrance jointly with Randall Wells. Originally stone slate roof. Forms group with Lych Gate (q.v.). Built as chapel-of-ease to St. Mary's, Kempley, (q.v.): became parish church in late C20. (P. Davey, Arts and Crafts Architecture, 1980; D. Verey, Gloucestershire, The Vale and the Forest of Dean, 1970.)

Listing NGR: SO6712829609

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

125953

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Verey, D, The Buildings of England: Gloucestershire 2 The Vale and The Forest of Dean, (1970)
Davey, P, Arts and Crafts Architecture, (1980)

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