Diameter: 18" Bell 1 of 1
Dove Bell ID: 54413 Tower ID: 20343 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Godney: Holy Trinity
Overview
Grid reference: ST 485 424
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Three-bay aisleless nave with west bell-cote and south porch; chancel.
Dimensions:
Nave 15.25m by 6m; chancel 5.25m by 3.5m.
Footprint of Church buildings: 186 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Nave by George Phillips Manners, 1839; chancel by Edmund Buckle, 1903-4. A parish was formed in 1869.
There was a mediaeval chapel belonging to Glastonbury Abbey on this site. That having become derelict, it was restored to use by Peter Davis, Recorder of Wells, in 1737 (as is recorded on a tablet in the church). Nothing of either of these phases of the building is now visible, though it is possible that the general configuration of the nave owes something to Davis' rebuilding.
The present nave was built in 1839 to designs by G P Manners of Bath (c1789-1866), who held the post of City Architect from 1823 until his retirement in 1862. Colvin remarks that 'he was a prolific architect who seems to have designed nothing of great distinction'. His earlier churches, like Godney, were usually 'Perpendicular' or 'Norman', but after he went into partnership with C E Gill in c1845 their churches conformed more with ecclesiological principles.
Of Edmund Buckle, who designed the chancel added in 1903-4, nothing seems to be known other than the fact that his office was at 23, Bedford Row, London WC. The foundation stone of the chancel was laid by Charles Davis Sherston in 1903.
Exterior Description
Godney church is a simple little building in two contrasting styles. The nave is an early Victorian translation of Neo-Norman and the chancel is Edwardian Early English.
The nave is rectangular, of three bays, each bays being framed by pilaster strips and a table of plain square corbels. At the base of the walls is a chamfered plinth and at springing level of the window arches is a chamfered stringcourse. A chamfer of the same profile outlines the window heads. Each bay has a single round-headed window with the exception of the middle bay on the south, where there is a round-headed doorway sheltered by a porch. The outer doorway has nook-shafts with simplified cushion capitals and simple chevron round the arch, which is outlined by a chamfered hood. The door is painted blue and has elaborate ironwork hinges. There is a small window in the west wall only.
The west nave wall has two registers - the lower with six bays of arcading of interlaced arches, the middle two pierced with small round-arched windows, and the upper, above a plain corbel table, with a two-light window. On the apex of the gable is a small cote for one bell.
The chancel is very simple. It is built of the same materials as the nave, and has a semi-circular unbuttressed apse round which are seven plain pointed windows. A stringcourse at sill level, together with the low pitch of the slated roof, emphasises its tall, narrow proportions compared with the adjoining nave.
Building Materials
Slate
roof
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the nave has a wood-block floor and plastered walls lined out as ashlar and painted cream above a plain pine dado. The windows and doorways have no special features. The roof has six queen-post trusses with semi-circular braces and collars. The chancel arch has two chamfers, the outer descending to stops above the stalls and the inner carried on corbels with fluting.
The floor within the chancel is raised on three steps, with a fourth step at the rails and two more within the chancel, exaggerating internally its tall narrow proportions. It is paved with plain red tiles with black lines. There is a piscina in the south wall with a sexfoil drain within a simple chamfered arch which also encloses an oak shelf. The windows are set within arcading on shafts with moulded bases and capitals and the flat roof (unusual for this late date) has a pattern of ribs, lozenges and circles.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
20th Century Plain oak table with four chamfered legs, c.1903.
Screen
20th Century Oak across the west end of the church, forming a narrow vestry, in Perpendicular style, c.1920.
Pulpit
20th Century Oak, a polygon in a simple Arts and Crafts style, c.1903.
Lectern
20th Century Iron pedestal with some brass details, routine work of c.1903.
Font (component)
19th Century Stone pillar in Neo-Norman style with capitals decorated with basketwork and crude volutes, c.1839
Stained Glass (window)
15th Century to 18th Century South nave I: shield of arms of the Diocese of Bath & Wells, c.1500. South nave II: figure in silver stain of an angel at a desk labelled 'St Matthew' and with the opening words of his gospel on a scroll, mid-15th-century. North nave III: a panel of fragments of various dates and styles, apparently including some mediaeval canopywork, part of a lion, part of a bare-breasted female figure, and 17th-century fragments of busts in strapwork cartouches. The two lower west windows each have a single shield of arms, one with the arms of Kelway quartered with Camel and Lyte and the other probably intended for Stanter of Horningsham impaling Lyte. These are thought to have come from a house belonging to the Kelways at Lillington near Sherborne, demolished shortly before the nave of Godney was built in 1839. Heraldic glass corresponding with these shields was recorded as being in the north window of the parlour there by Hutchins in 1738. The glass is of c.1580.
Plaque (object)
18th Century to 20th Century To Elizabeth Reynolds and five others, d.1849-84; brass tablet of the latter date. To Jeanes Adams Bowen and John Bowen, infant sons of John Bowen, priest vicar of Wells, curate of Godney chapel and vicar of Bishops Lydeard, d.1780 and 1781; tablet of (?) slate painted black, a pyramid with shield of arms above, all carried on two brackets. To Anna Lax, d. 1859; white tablet with leaf panels each side and Vitruvian scroll on the frieze, on grey marble ground, by Rawlings of Shepton Mallet. Two war memorials, both plain brass tablets, that to the 1914-18 war being by J James of Bristol, with the names of 5 dead and 26 returned, that for 1939-45 with the name of one dead.
Gravestone
19th Century To Mary Anne Comer, d.1839; stone ledger slab.
Organ (component)
Small instrument by the Positive Organ Company with the specification 16,8,8,8,8,8(divided),4(divided).
Pew (object)
20th Century The pews belong to the 1903 work, all in simple Arts and Crafts style, unusually flowing shaped ends.
Bells
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
The two clergy desks belong to the 1903 work, all in simple Arts and Crafts style, with unusually flowing shaped ends
Pair of Glastonbury chairs, oak, 19th-century, given in 1903.
Two simple oak hall chairs, with wooden seats, the backs painted with a shield of arms of three hunting horns and the crest of a stag, late 18th-century.
Small table in the vestry, with turned legs and stretchers, perhaps late Georgian
Churchyard
Grid reference: ST 485 424
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.
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
Quinquennial Inspections
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