Stretford: St Cosmas & St Damian
Overview
Grid reference: SO 443 557
Built, like so many churches in this area, of the local pinkish coloured sandstone rubble with dressings of the same material. The roof covering is of tiles. The west wall of the church has a broad gable, with a square top to accommodate the bell-turret - the latter barge-boarded and surmounted by a shingled spirelet. Both in the west wall of the nave and of the north aisle are windows of two trefoil-headed lights, that of the aisle being 14th century (with a small round window above it) and that of the nave probably early 16th century.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
The exterior form is a large gabled rectangle, with a south-west porch and western bell-turret, but the church is in fact of double-nave form with a central arcade dividing the two almost identical halves.
Description of Archaeology and History
The former nave and chancel (now north aisle and chapel) are early to mid 12th century; to this were added the present nave and chancel in the first half of the 13th century. In c. 1320-30 the whole building was lengthened by 7 or 8 feet to the east and the double-gabled roof replaced in c.1540 by the surviving single gabled roof covering the whole building with the bell-turret at the west. South porch is probably late 16th century or early 17th century. Restored in 1875, and west wall of south nave rebuilt in 1922.
Exterior Description
Built, like so many churches in this area, of the local pinkish coloured sandstone rubble with dressings of the same material. The roof covering is of tiles. The west wall of the church has a broad gable, with a square top to accommodate the bell-turret - the latter barge-boarded and surmounted by a shingled spirelet. Both in the west wall of the nave and of the north aisle are windows of two trefoil-headed lights, that of the aisle being 14th century (with a small round window above it) and that of the nave probably early 16th century.
The east wall of the church, 14th century work, has an east window for the north chapel and an east window for the chancel - the former of two plain pointed lights in a two-centred head with an ogival point and the east window of the chancel, rather more grand, of three plain pointed lights with intersecting tracery but otherwise of similar character to that of the north chapel. In the south wall are two 13th century lancet lights, close together but one lighting the chancel and the other the nave. The south doorway is also 13th century, and has chamfered jambs and a two-centred head. The porch is of timber, on low stone walls, the south part having posts, tie-beam, and braces to form a three-centred entrance arch.
Interior
Interior Description
The most significant feature of the interior is the timbered roof structure. Also prominent is the 13th century central arcade of two bays dividing the nave and north aisle, and the further bay (lengthened in the 14th century), which divides the chancel from the north chapel. The nave pier is cylindrical, with moulded abacus and capital, and the half-cylindrical responds east and west are of the same character. The east respond of the arch dividing the chancel and chapel is hidden by a stone shrine - probably late 15th or early 16th century - with a crested topland cill formed by the fragment of a foliated 13th century coffin-lid, a curious instance of re-use. The north aisle and chapel are remarkable for both having a recess containing freestone effigies. The roof-structure is of four bays, the whole appearing to be carried down on the four corner posts inside the building and on the arcade wall which divides the building into two halves. The truss over the screens (the chapel and chancel have identical early 16th century screens) has a moulded tie-beam, king-post with subsidiary posts and a collar; the truss against the west wall also has a tie-beam, but the other trusses are of collar-beam type with central posts standing on the arcade wall and curved braces. The four purlins on each side have wind-braces, the two upper ranges curved and the lower ranges cusped.
Fixtures and fittings
Piscina (object)
14th Century
North broken chapel, south wall: recess with trefoiled ogee and crocketted head and broken drain.
Piscina (object)
Chancel: reset head of 12th century pillar-piscina, with scalloped and enriched capital. Behind is the 13th century recess with a moulded two - centred head.
Chest
c. 17th Century
Located in front of north chapel screen. Boarded, with two strap-hinges, and probably 17th century.
Font (object)
Late 12th Century
A fine simple shape, consisting of an irregular cup- shaped bowl and a tapering stem with a pronouncedlean. Moulded base.
Pulpit
Early - Mid 17th Century
Four sides of an octagon, panels in two tiers with robustly carved ornamentation.
Screen
c. Early 16th Century
Each screen has three pierced bays on either side of the central doorway, moulded rails and posts, doorway with three-centred head and foliated spandrels, and cusping on the heads of the upper pierced part of the side panels.
Altar
17th Century
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 443 557
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 | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
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
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