Summary
A timber-framed mission church and lychgate constructed under instruction of the Bishop of Worcester in the late C19.
Reasons for Designation
St Mary’s Church and lychgate are listed at Grade II for the following principal reasons:
Architectural interest:
* whilst the church is of a simple design, it has been carefully designed and crafted with artistic elements raising the level of interest;
* the church is a rare example of a timber-framed mission church which has survived with little alteration.
Historic Interest:
* the church and lychgate have strong connections with Bishop of Worcester Henry Philpott, and represent a good example of his charitable works and contribution to the local community.
History
St Mary's Church, in the parish of Hartlebury, was constructed in 1882 under the instruction of Henry Philpott, Bishop of Worcester. It is thought that the church was constructed to provide the local farm labourers a more convenient alternative to worship than travelling to the parish church of St James, Hartlebury (Grade II*; National Heritage List for England (NHLE) entry 1288150), which is located approximately 1.3 miles to the north. The Bishop of Worcester was traditionally strongly associated with this area of the county, as the bishop's palace was located at nearby Hartlebury Castle. Bishop Philpott in particular was known for his charitable work, which included donating land for an additional churchyard at Lower Mitton, the creation of this church and other endeavours. Bishop Philpott died in 1892 and was buried in the churchyard at St Mary’s. A memorial stone was laid by his wife.
The building was undertaken by Thomas Vale, a local architect based in nearby Stourport-on-Severn. Vale was also the architect for the lychgate, which was constructed in 1892 and dedicated to the memory of Bishop Philpott. The 1903 OS map suggests that the original boundary of the churchyard had been extended by this point to include a larger area to the west of the church.
An undated photograph depicts the framework of the church porch as open; its infilling with boarding, glazing and a door was possibly undertaken during a 1987 programme of restoration and rededication. It is understood that during these works parts of the timber panelling within the church was repaired.
In recent years, the church has been widely used by members of the Gypsy and Traveller community. The church is currently (2024) closed.
Details
A timber-framed mission church and lychgate constructed under instruction of the Bishop of Worcester in the late C19.
MATERIALS: the church is timber framed on a red brick plinth, with a single course of blue chamfered brick. The church has a blue Welsh slate roof, with a red-tiled ridge.
PLAN: the church is rectangular on plan, with protrusions to the west and east housing the vestry and porch entrance to the church.
EXTERIOR: St Mary’s Church is a single storey building, with a steeply pitched roof and a bellcote to the south of the roof. The building is timber framed with a combination of rough cast and smooth render infill on a red brick plinth. Surrounding the building are outriggers of the brick plinth within which are set cast iron brackets supporting the posts of the timber framing.
The principal elevation faces eastwards, and the frontage has a large, double height timber projecting porch, which is located off-centre. The porch is gabled with barge boards and a cross-shaped finial to the gable end. A stone step leads to timber double doors into the porch; the doors are flanked by leaded light windows. To the right of the porch is a large five-light leaded window, with small top-hung casements above. Below the central pane of the window is a foundation stone inscribed ‘Laid by Mrs Philpott 1882’.
The rear of the building faces into the churchyard and the elevation mirrors that to the east; there is an off-centre projecting gabled porch, housing the vestry, and an off-centre five light window. Again, the porch is topped with a cross-shaped finial, however there is no entrance to the building from the elevation. There is a two-light window to the upper portion of the porch.
The north and south elevations are both gabled and topped with cross-shaped finials. The north elevation has a tall, narrow three-light window which has three small panes above. The southern elevation is similar, with a wider six-light tall window, complete with four smaller glazed panes above.
There is a small ventilator situated towards the centre of the roof and a bellcote at the southern end. The ventilator is upstanding and appears to be cast iron with a slate hipped roof. The bellcote appears to be a combined timber and iron frame, similarly with a slate roof and slate cladding to the lower section.
INTERIOR: the interior of the church is formed of a single space, accessed via the porch, and off which is the vestry at the north-western angle of the church.
The porch walls are formed of roughly finished plaster, with the exception of the wall housing the entrance to the church, which is boarded. A pair of doors with decorative iron brackets lead into the nave and above the doors is a framed coat of arms with the surrounding inscription ‘Henry Philpott Bishop of Worcester 1882’.
The walls of the nave and vestry are formed of V-jointed dado boarding, with stained timber framing and wall panels above. The ceiling within the nave has four timber and iron scissor brace trusses, with exposed rafters and diagonal boarding above. To the south end, a small access hatch leads to the bellcote. The roof within the vestry is similar, with exposed rafters and diagonal boarding.
An oak communion rail separates the nave from the sanctuary just beyond the door to the vestry. The communion rail is formed of two sections, with a removable central section. Each of the two fixed sections is formed of three bays, with shouldered braces to each bay; the braces each have three trefoil cutouts. Beyond the communion rail is a centrally located altar; the altar is oak and formed of three sections with floral engravings to the outer sections and a central engraving of the letters IHS within a crown of thorns. Also, beyond the communion rail and on the eastern side of the church is an oak prie dieu, complete with kneeler. The prie dieu has an engraved floral pattern traversing the length of each of the sides.
Throughout the nave, the aisle is flanked by simple unfitted pews, each with an open back divided into three segments. The ends of the pews are chamfered, and at the base of the pew end is a chamfered cutout. The choir stalls face the aisle of the church and are understood to be moveable. The stalls are of the same design as those within the main section of the nave, with a front piece featuring chamfered cutouts in the form of a barbed quatrefoil. Towards the rear of the building, near to the entrance to the porch, is a cedar wood, octagonal font. The fluted pedestal is situated on a curved chamfer base, and the eight sides of the font feature alternate carvings of a trefoil or a cross.
SUBSIDIARY FEATURES: the lychgate is located at the eastern side of the churchyard and leads through to the main road. The lychgate is formed of a steeply pitched roof, dwarf walls with timber framing and open panels above and low gates to the street. Each of the gable ends is topped with a cross shaped finial, and below the roof level is open. A plaque above the entrance reads ‘IN THANKFUL REMEMBRANCE OF H. PHILPOTT, BISHOP OF WORCESTER’ whilst a plaque above the exit reads ‘JESUS WEPT.’
