Nominal: 1601.5 Hz Weight: 224 lbs Diameter: 20" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1859
Dove Bell ID: 6006 Tower ID: 10592 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Shelsley Walsh: St Andrew
Diocese of Worcester
Church, 642061
https://wwrt.churchinsight.com/Articles/520437/Shelsley_Parish.aspxOverview
Grid reference: SO 721 629
The nave is twelfth-century, the chancel thirteenth-century, but both had all features renewed when the church was restored in 1859 (the architect was George Truefitt).
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Although of slightly different dates, the nave and chancel stand together under one roof; there is a north porch and a west bell-cote.
Dimensions:
The church is 54 ft. long and the nave is 16 ft. wide (the chancel is slightly wider).
Footprint of Church buildings: 130 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The nave is twelfth-century, the chancel thirteenth-century, but both had all features renewed when the church was restored in 1859 (the architect was George Truefitt).
Exterior Description
The walls are built of tufa and the roof is tiled.
The north wall is seen from the approaching drive and shows immediately that there are two chief building periods, for the nave is separated from the chancel by a vertical joint in the masonry nave has three lancet lights, one with a pointed head and two further east with round heads, all renewed. The north porch is of timber, added in the 1859 restoration. The paired lights in the north nave wall have pointed heads, showing a later date than the nave.
The east window is of three lights, the central one as usual wider and taller than the outer pair, and has a small pointed quatrefoil above; there are no labels or dripstones, and the windows have the look of being cut through the wall. The west window is similarly unembellished, but has two lights with a big octofoil above. In the south wall, which does not have such a definite line of change as the north wall, the windows are all lancets, with a pair in the chancel and then a single one further west followed by another pair and again, near the west wall, another single light. Between the last two is a tiny Norman light. The bell-cote, with three trefoiled openings on each face and a tiled pyramidal cap, stands over the west gable.
The only doorway to the church is sheltered by the north porch. The doorway itself is Norman with a pair of nook-shafts with scalloped capitals and an uncarved semi-circular tympanum outside which is an arch carved with several rows of zig- zag. The door with its heavy oak lock is mostly mediaeval, constructed of oak, and in the jambs are holes for an oak bar.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c.1865
The east window dates from c.1865, with a panel of the Crucifixion against a background of grisaille.
Stained Glass
c.1870
The south wall has a two-light window with colourful grisaille on which are panels of unusual subjects, illustrating texts.
Stained Glass
c.1860
A small light in the south nave wall shows St. Andrew.
Interior
Interior Description
Directly opposite the doorway inside is the other undoubtedly Norman feature, a tiny windowwithin a deep embrasure; it now has a stained glass figure of St. Andrew. This holds the attention for only a moment in the face of the real glory of the church which is the woodwork. This is remarkable in three distinct ways. First of all the rood screen and rood beam of the late fifteenth century survive virtually intact, together with a small parclose screen round an area on the south side of the entry to the chancel, no doubt a small chantry chapel. Secondly there is the chancel roof, with thick cross beams each carrying three queen posts, another cross beam and then struts to the principals all embellished in 1859 with geometric cut-out carving. Thirdly there is in the chancel (one of only two monuments in the church) a wooden tomb chest of 1596. The chancel roof is boarded and painted blue with rows of gold stars, while the nave roof (which is almost as old but not as striking) is left unboarded, although nail-holes show that this also was once boarded.
An interesting feature of the 1859 restoration is that the woodwork which was then provided (pews, stalls and lectern) is of a sturdy and unusual design which ties in well with the stout timbers in the roof structure. The style is even recognisable in the wooden knob on the door and in the umbrella stand just outside. It is characterised by square knobs with nicks in the middle of each arris giving the appearance of a St. Andrew's cross on each face.
The walls are left unplastered inside and although all the windows externally are either new or renewed. The only decorative feature is a filleted roll-moulding to the arch of the east window. There are signs of a blocked doorway in the south wall opposite the present north doorway. A thirteenth century piscina in the south wall of the sanctuary has a trefoiled head and a projecting sill moulded with bead and dogtooth.
Fixtures and fittings
Screen
The chanccl screen dates from the fifteenth century, and is arranged in four single-light compartments each side of a wider central opening. Each panel has linenfold panelling in the lower part and is open in the upper part with ogee headed tracery incorporating two circles enclosing four whirling mouchettes. Above this is a cornice of deeply under-cut vine-trail and then a cresting of bratishing. All the upright and horizontal structural members are moulded. Incorporated in the same structure is a parclose screen on the south side which encloses an area about six feet by nine feet forming originally a small chantry chapel and latterly a small squire's pew. The bays all round the two sides are treated in a manner similar to the screen, and the entrance on the north side follows the form of the central entrance of the chancel screen. The only difference is that the continuous bratishing does not follow round the top of the parclose screen.
Rail
The communion rails are carried on little square colonettes with foliated capitals.
Font (object)
Early 12th Century
The font is early twelfth-century, of one single large stone shaped rather like an egg-cup in that the sides swell outwards towards the top to form the bowl; at the foot are roll-mouldings. The base dates from 1906.
Lectern
The lectern is contrived on the kneeling bench of the front pew, an odd for arrangement.
Pulpit
The pulpit is modern, with linenfold panels after the design of the lower part of the screen.
Bells
Nominal: 1882 Hz Weight: 112 lbs Diameter: 15.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1859
Dove Bell ID: 38729 Tower ID: 10592 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1744 Hz Weight: 168 lbs Diameter: 18.25" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1859
Dove Bell ID: 38730 Tower ID: 10592 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 721 629
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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