Diameter: 20" Bell 1 of 1
Founded by Charles & George Mears 1848
Dove Bell ID: 52746 Tower ID: 19381 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Coston: St Michael
Overview
Grid reference: TG 62 62
Chiefly flint, the nave and chancel being for the most part rendered. Roof coverings on nave and porch are of pantiles, mostly black-glazed; chancel is covered with slates. The completeness of the 13th century work is impressive. Apart from the east window of the chancel the windows have all retained their 13th century form.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, nave with south-west porch, chancel.
Description of Archaeology and History
Principally late 13th century (Pevsner); the chancel east wall is Georgian, possibly early 19th century.
Exterior Description
Chiefly flint, the nave and chancel being for the most part rendered. Roof coverings on nave and porch are of pantiles, mostly black-glazed; chancel is covered with slates.
The completeness of the 13th century work is impressive. Apart from the east window of the chancel the windows have all retained their 13th century form. In the south wall of the nave are two such windows, each a broad lancet with two hollow chamfers to the outside and a hoodmould over terminating in label stops carved as human heads. A string-course runs below the sill of the east wall is brick at the sides, and the centre portion (which contains the east window) rendered - so it is not possible to be quite sure if the entire wall was to rebuilt in brick in Georgian times. If it was then the east window must be re-set, as it consists of three Perpendicular cinquefoiled lights under a square head and hood-mould. In fact it appears that the chancel east wall must have been rebuilt entirely, and the chancel originally longer, judging by the uncomfortable closeness of the north-east window. As on the south side, on the north there are two chancel windows without hood-moulds and two in the nave with hood moulds. There is a doorway towards the west end of the north wall, blocked, and the string-course rises over it to form an arch-moulding. The string-course is then wrapped round the north-west buttress and rises in the corner to continue at a higher level round the tower.
Three building periods can be discerned in the tower. The greater part is no doubt 13th century, and rises some dozen or so feet higher than the roof of the nave (On the west face of the tower is the weather-mark of an earlier roof with steeper pitch). Then the belfry stage looks to be 14th century, the belfry-windows with Y-tracery. Above that is a deep parapet of knapped flints with crenellations containing shields and quatrefoils in knapped flint and stone. In the west face of the lowest stage are two 13th century lancet lights, one about ten feet from the ground and the other considerably higher.
The south-west porch is partly built of bricks, and partly smoothed over with rendering, and looks to be early 16th century. The south door is of some sophistication, with two convex mouldings, and a hood-mould (linked to the string-course which goos right round the church) with bold label-stops in the form of heads.
Interior
Interior Description
Nave and chancel floors are paved throughout in brick, even under the pews. The roof is arch braced, with massive cambered tie-beams themselves braced to wall-posts. The roof is of fairly low pitch, and is probably 15th century. A delightful and unexpected feature of the 13th century windows in both nave and chancel is that they have a very deep moulding with stylised leaves at the foot. The chancel arch has a main outor arch, and an inner arch on corbels; both have a hollow chamfer, and the corbels of the inner arch terminate in a carved stone knot. In the east wall of the chancel are three 13th century capitals or corbels re-set, two on the north and one on the south.
The rood-stair is entered by a doorway in the north impost of the chancel arch, and the staircase is in the thickness of the wall. About two-thirds of the way up is a tiny rectangular opening to provide light. There is no piscina in the chancel, as is only to be expected if the chancel is shorter than it once was, but there is a fine and complete 13th century piscina in the south-east corner of the nave. By the blocked north door, inside, is an embrasure which looks as though it was a holy water stoup.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
Perpendicular stone font, quite massive, with octagonal bowl and stem.
Bench (seat)
18th Century
Three 18th century benches, two at the west end of the nave and one in the chancel, with carved arms.
Pew (object)
19th Century
Pine. Seven on the north and six on the south. The backs notched in a manner which speaks of the 1860's or 1870's.
Altar
Late 16th Century
A late 16th century table, with columnar legs.
Rail
Early 19th Century
Gothick, wooden rails placed at the chancel arch.
Pulpit
Early 17th Century
Hexagonal pulpit, early 17th century, with blank arcading and pendants.
Bells
Churchyard
Grid reference: TG 62 62
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
Submit a change
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