Situated in the delightful village of Sidbury, this fabulous church with Saxon origins sits amidst impossibly beautiful surroundings. It contains some unusual features, including a couple of things that I haven't seen before, and the building as a whole is quite lovely set amongst the trees in the churchyard.
A Grade I Listed Building, the architecture covers various periods with some significant Norman work and also includes one of only six known Saxon crypts in the country.
On the east wall exterior is an example of Norman diaper pattern in the stonework (below), which is unusual and rarely seen in this area.
The building fabric comprises limestone rubble and ashlar with limestone dressings from Beer Quarry, above Beer Village.
This attractive corner between the south transept and the chancel contains a shelf in the wall to the right of the door, where it is thought that either pilgrims left offerings or it was possibly an empty tomb recess.* Interestingly, the windows here show four different styles; the one on the left is Early English, the next along is Decorated, a tiny Norman window next to that then a Perpendicular style above the Niche.
*I did wonder if it was used as a coffin rest to conduct the first part of the funeral service before taking it into the chancel, which they used to do at one time. I don't know if there ever was a Lych Gate for that purpose but there isn't one now, which would mean setting the coffin down elsewhere.
The south elevation is quite unusual, comprising a porch with embattlements and a large South Transept gable.
The 15th century porch, below, including sundial above the door and with an embattled polygonal stair-turret angled between the south aisle and west face of the porch.
And another turret between the aisle and the Norman tower, seen below.
The tower is dated circa 1150, with its round-arched Norman windows. The 95ft high needle spire was a later addition, along with the top parapets and pinnacles in 1884 - 5, during a time of much restoration.
On the west front of the tower are two bas relief effigies, dated to circa 12th century, seen below on the right. They are thought to be St Giles and St Peter, although on the Listed Buildings Register they are described as a bishop and a saint.
Below those is a three-light Perpendicular window, which in turn is above the west door, seen below left. The photo to the right of that shows inside the south porch with stone vaulting and a large carved boss in the centre.
The interior is beautifully light with plastered and whitewashed walls. The aisles date from around 1190 and the transepts are of 13th century origin. Below shows the end of the south aisle with its lovely barrel vaulted ceiling, which is between the south porch and the stair-turret.
There are plain windows throughout, apart from four stained glass windows. The east window was placed in 1913, which can be seen along the nave below.
And some close-up photos including a lovely reredos depicting the crucifix in gesso panels.
The other stained glass windows were all added from 1899 to 1913 during restorations.
Just inside the west entrance is a gallery with organ dated circa 1620.
This rather delightful door on the west is probably the inner door of a porch between it and the exterior door. There's part of a mediaeval wall painting to the left, one of several fragmentary pieces in the church.
The octagonal font, below, is situated to the right of the gallery and has a perpendicular base with lovely decorative panelling and quatrefoils. The unusual ogee shaped cover is Jacobean.
And looking up from the gallery along the north aisle.
Although I hadn't specifically taken photos of the other stained glass windows here is one seen in the background. I'd forgotten about this! ;)
And another one can just about be glimpsed in the north transept to the right. Plus some of the plain perpendicular windows.
And on the arches between the aisles and transepts are the kind of things that make me want to grab people and say 'Look at this!' Fabulous decorative carvings from the perpendicular period - mid 14th century to the 16th century - when decorations started becoming more uniform throughout the church rather than an effusion of different motifs.
Aren't they just gorgeous! :)
And some lovely carving beneath the gallery too.
Two pairs of squints are on either side of the nave; the photos below show one beside the door looking into the nave and the view through another one from the nave to an aisle or transept.
Looking down the nave to the west door, below...
...and an old bier, which was used to transport coffins at one time.
Two of the final photos include the drinking fountain built into the churchyard wall in1887 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, on the left below, and a cheeky self portrait in the glass of the south door.
The
village and church were on my list of places to visit for some time,
but not at all easily accessible for me. However, going out for the day
with a friend on a lovely late spring day in May 2011, we ended up there
and enjoyed a wander around in the late afternoon.
And just to put the cherry on the icing, as the sun lit up the hills behind the church we repaired to the pub just across the road, where we enjoyed a pint in the pub garden before heading home. Bliss!
As it was 13 years ago and I didn't have enough photos to orient myself by, I got somewhat confused as to what was where. What really puzzled me was the description of the South Transept and the Chancel beneath a photo in a book I bought in the church, and I just couldn't figure it out. To make it a bit clearer I drew a plan of the church as best I could, which helped a lot, and then realised that they had the description round the wrong way! From then on I was fine, lol.
Well, that was one of the 'stragglers' that I talked about at the end of the previous post, but it was difficulty in writing it up that put me off. Otherwise I really enjoyed the visit to this truly beautiful church. There are a couple of others to do too, which I'll get onto as and when, along with the 'reluctant stragglers'. No idea which one I'm doing next though, so that'll be a surprise! :)
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