Writhlington: St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: ST 703 550
The original purpose of the church and its low-lying situation were neither conducive to grandiose building plans, and the church is indeed a smallish tower-less building with minimal Gothic details. Some attempt has been made to give the variety of a mediaeval building by employing a slightly earlier style for the chancel than for the nave, and it is possible that this reflects the building periods of the previous church on the site.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Three-bay nave with north aisle, south porch and west bell-cote; two-bay chancel with north vestry.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church was built in 1874 to replace a former structure on the same site. The architect is not known.
Exterior Description
The original purpose of the church and its low-lying situation were neither conducive to grandiose building plans, and the church is indeed a smallish tower-less building with minimal Gothic details. Some attempt has been made to give the variety of a mediaeval building by employing a slightly earlier style for the chancel than for the nave, and it is possible that this reflects the building periods of the previous church on the site. The chancel has two trefoiled lancets in the south wall and an east window with three ogee-headed lights leading up into flowing tracery incorporating three pointed mouchettes. The label to this window simply returns horizontally at the ends. At the eastern angles are angle buttresses with two orders of offsets.
The path to the south porch leads past the chancel south wall and thus also past the south nave wall, which is divided into two bays by buttresses; each bay has a single Perpendicular two-light window with trefoiled heads under a square dripstone. The south porch is very plain, without any windows in the side walls, and with an outer doorway under a two-centred arch, the spandrels between that and the square hoodmould being carved with pointed trefoils. In the gable above is a small sundial.
The west wall of the nave has a central feature consisting of a bell-cote with two arches for bells resting on an arch over the sharply pointed west window. The tracery of the window consists of two ogee headed lights and a pointed mouchette. The label of the window ends in carved heads, while the double label round the bell-cote arches has foliage at the outer ends and a staring beast's head in the centre.
The north aisle is of three bays with a two-light west window and paired trefoiled lights in each bay of the north wall; the transeptal organ chamber projecting on the norta side of the chancel has a two-light window in the north gable and a chimney at the apex.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c.1860
The east window represents the Ascension, c.1860, and quite good, with bold Geometrical canopy work.
Stained Glass
The west window has two small panels of stained glass, one a shield of arms and the other a figure in gold of the Virgin and Child.
Interior
Interior Description
All the walls are faced with unplastered stonework. All the windows save the east and west stand within plain rere-arches, the west window having the additional decoration of a moulding round the arch and the east window having a trefoiled rere-arch which looks as though it might have been re-used from the previous church. The north arcade of the nave is carried on cylindrical piers, the arches being of two chamfered orders. The half-round corbels at each respond are repeated in the design of the chancel arch which is also of two chamered orders. At the west end is a wooden screen which conceals a small store room and the nave is seated with heavy pine pews. The roof is scissor-braced with plaster panels between the timbers.
There is no chancel screen, but the stone pulpit stands before the chancel arch on the south side. In a recent rearrangement of the furnishings the communion rails were brought forward to stand just east of the arch. The south-east window comes down low internally to form sedilia and the reredos takes the form of three quatrefoils cut in the stonework on the east wall between the top of the altar table and the sill of the east window.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
The pulpit is simply a low stone screen forming three sides of an octagon. The top has small castellations and a band of florets, the panels each with paired trefoiled arches separated by inset shafts of coloured marble at the edges.
Font (object)
c. Early 16th Century
The font is octagonal, probably early sixteenth-century, with quatrefoils in circles round the bowl and a small circular moulded stem.
Lectern
The lectern is of brass, on a pedestal typical of Jones and Willis.
Churchyard
Grid reference: ST 703 550
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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