Church of St Mary

Details

SP 01 NW SHIPTON SHIPTON SOLLARS

5/113 Church of St. Mary 26.1.61 GV I

Anglican parish church. C13, Perpendicular, restored 1884-5 for Mr. E. Fieldhouse of Shipton Sollars Manor and again in 1930 by Messrs. R.L. Boulton of Cheltenham. Nave and chancel. Coursed limestone rubble, originally plastered, traces of which remain. Chancel north wall; single cinquefoil-headed lancet with stopped hood. Three-light Perpendicular east window with stopped hood. Chancel south wall; partly blocked 2-light window within rectangular surround with Perpendicular tracery, small lancet left, part of the east jamb of a priest's doorway between the two windows. Nave south wall; votive cross incised into quoin c3Ocm above base course at south-east corner of nave, pointed early plank door (repaired at bottom) with fillets within early Perpendicular doorway of 2 orders. Late Perpendicular, square-headed 2-light window with cinquefoil heads to each light right. Three-light Perpendicular west window with tracery and stopped hood. Nave north wall; single cinquefoil-headed light and stopped hood. C19 plank door with fillets in form of decorative tracery and shields with floral decoration and stopped hood. Two consecration crosses visible scratched into remnants of plaster, one about lm west of north door, one immediately west of north chancel window. Slightly stepped gable coping. Roll-cross saddle with early stone cross (discovered during restoration of church). C19 bellcote at west gable end of nave with single bell and simple cross finial. Interior plastered. Pointed flat-chamfered chancel arch. Three bay C15 wagon roof to nave with tie beams with moulded soffits, king posts to collars and moulded wallplate, section nearest chancel enclosed to form wagon roof with finely carved wooden bosses at intersections of panels. Similar single bay roof to chancel. Small aumbry left of arch. Aumbry in north wall of sanctuary left of altar with thick stone slab shelf, C20 door with traceried decoration. Simple Early English piscina in south wall of chancel, front of bowl defaced. Early C20 panelling in chancel, panelling behind altar with linenfold decoration. Remains of post- Reformation texts on north and south walls of nave. Black letter inscription 'God Save the King' (probably Henry VIII) over chancel arch. Inscription 'I R 1212' left of chancel arch, probably recording the foundation of the church in that year during the reign of King John (Ioannis Rex). Eight painted consecration crosses, 4 in nave and 4 in chancel, all reddish brown in colour (painted around at later date). Flagstone floor. C20 choir stalls and chairs. Mid C17 carved oak pulpit with tester probably made from discarded pieces of carving. C20 hourglass stand attached to wall in front of pulpit was made to house an old hourglass brought from elsewhere. c1930. Two C17 carved oak chairs one elaborately carved with roses and thistles, the other a child's chair. Stone mensa (found during C20 restoration of church) supported by 2 cylindrical columns with moulded capitals and bases standing on a chamfered stone, (possibly from a chest tomb). Monuments: Nave north wall; monument to John Powell of Frogmill, died 1734, and other members of the Powell family. Oval limestone plaque with finely carved winged cherub's head at top. Nave south wall; monument to Sarah Roberts, wife of Thomas Roberts of Hampen, Gent, died 1671. Segmental pediment, marble inscription plaque in limestone surround, wreathed half skull at top, winged angel at bottom, foliate decoration either side of sunken inscription panel. Unidentified monument left, dated 1697, marble inscription panel fine carved limestone surround, almost heart- shaped inscription plaque with beaded surround and winged faces at top and bottom. Scroll work flowers and fruit at bottom. Stone ledger set in floor of sanctuary in front of altar with letters J.W.E.S.R. and date 1706. Further stone ledgers in nave. Brass plaque on north wall left of altar to Joseph Walker, rector of Shipton churches, died 1706. Fine C20 stained glass in chancel, figures of St. Thomas and St. Mary Magdalene in east window, arms of Fieldhouse family in north window. Two medallions in south-east window and figure of Madonna and Child in south-west window. All glass by Geoffrey Webb. (Brian Taylor, Notes on The Church of St. Mary, Shipton Sollars; David Verey, The Buildings of England, The Cotswolds, 1979).

Listing NGR: SP0312618479

Legacy

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

Legacy System number:

129218

Legacy System:

LBS

Sources

Books and journals
Verey, D, The Buildings of England: Gloucestershire The Cotswolds, (1979)
Taylor, B, Notes on the Church of St Mary Shipton Sollars, ()

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