Swymbridge: St Thomas: Travellers' Rest Chapel
Overview
Grid reference: SS 612 271
The church is composed of local stone with dressed stone to the windows and a plain tiled roof.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and chancel in one with a vestry on the north and a porch at the south-west.
Description of Archaeology and History
Built as a chapel of ease to Swymbridge by the Revd. J.Russell Vicar of Swymbridge in 1866. The architects were probably Oliver and Dyer who also built a similar chapel-of-ease at Gunn. Travellers' Rest cost £850 and was consecrated in 1871.
Exterior Description
The church is composed of local stone with dressed stone to the windows and a plain tiled roof. A small store on the west end is of pointed concrete blocks with a tiled roof. The garage has brick walls rendered and roughcast, and again with a tiled roof. On the south side is a single stepped buttress. The nave has three windows of two lights each with a trefoil or a circle in the head. All the windows have plate tracery. The chancel has two small lancets on the south side but only one on the north as the vestry is further to the west. The porch is a wooden construction with a tiled roof resting on low stone walls. The west window is composed of two two-light windows each with a circle to the head and these are surmounted by a cinquefoil. The east window is of three stepped lights within a chamfered surround. The heads of all three lights are trefoiled and the central light is crowned by a trefoil in the tracery. On the north side of the nave there are three windows which match those on the south. The ends of the gables are crowned by crosses fleurees. To the west of the vestry is a trefoil-headed doorway which was blocked in 1930.
Interior
Interior Description
The floor is tiled in black and red. In the chancel there are sedilia and a cupboard recess in front of which projects a scalloped coral. The roof is a king-post construction which deacends to wall post level-at the entry to the chancel and is crudely given a hammer-beam shape at this point. The chancel is raised, but there is no chancel arch. A rood beam carries a carved and gilded Crucifixion with two attendant figures of kneeling angels. The figures were installed in 1930. The nave windows are accommodated in segmental-headed embrasures.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
An English Altar with riddel posts, one band of decoration, and cresting.
Stall
Heavily carved pine.
Screen
Heavily carved pine.
Pew (object)
Heavily carved pine.
Pulpit
Heavily carved pine.
Lectern
Double-sided book rest supported on a central stem supported at the base by four struts.
Font (object)
A curiosity, Jacobean in style and made of plaster. Three volutes support a bulbous stem decorated with acanthus leaves. The bowl has four cherubs' heads and unusual iron rings are affixed to bowl and stem. The cover is composed of volutes and a finial. Although its date and provenance are unknown and its features are very ungainly, it is an interesting piece.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SS 612 271
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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