Caldecote: St Theobald & St Chad
Overview
Grid reference: SP 348 951
A small Gothic church in a secluded location, hidden down a private country lane. Of 13th century origin, though substantially rebuilt in 1857 by Ewan Christian who introduced the west bell-turret with spire. It follows a simple form with nave with projecting gabled south porch and lower chancel with north vestry and north organ chamber. Two-light pointed windows sit beneath hoodmoulds with headstops, with a three-light window at the east end.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
4-bay aisleless nave with north vestry and south porch. 2-bay chancel (at slight angle to nave) with north organ chamber. Octagonal west bell-turret with spire.
Dimensions:
[Approximate] Nave 13m (43ft) x 7m (23ft), chancel 9m (30ft) x 5m (16ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 180 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
Within the vicinity of Caldecote, a Palaeolithic handaxe and tool have been found, south-east of the church. Roman remains have also been recorded north of Watling Street (A5), itself a Roman road. Two Prehistoric ring ditches are also visible as crop marks on aerial photographs. The village of Caldecote was mentioned in the Domesday Book, and a priest was also recorded at that time.
Caldecote Hall, an unlisted red brick house rebuilt in 1880, was built on the site of a medieval manor house. The Hall has been home to a succession of families, many of whose names are remembered inside the church. Whilst the hall was occupied by the Purefey family, it was attacked by Charles I’s sons, Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice in 1642, during the Civil War [VCH]. The story is remembered in George Abbot’s memorial on the north chancel wall. The door to the church is said to have come from the hall and bullet holes, a mark of the siege.
The church was repaired in 1766 and substantially rebuilt in 1857 by architect Ewan Christian [1814-95], at a cost of £2000 [VCH]. Christian was vice-president and Royal Gold Medallist of the RIBA and an architect to the Ecclesiastical Commission [Cherry]. Despite being well regarded at the time, his reputation has latterly been the subject of criticism, his restorations have been deemed destructive and dull by those including Pevsner.
The site has some archaeological potential. There are no known designations relating to the ecology of the plot, though it contains mature trees.
Exterior Description
A small Gothic church in a secluded location, hidden down a private country lane. Prominent cement pointing detracts from the appearance. The church is described in length in the Victoria County History. The Chancel is orientated at a slight angle to the nave.
In brief, the church follows a simple form with nave with projecting gabled south porch (with pointed arched opening with hoodmould and headstops, screened by a wrought-iron gate, gable with stone cross finial, small windows in east and west elevations) and lower chancel with north vestry and north organ chamber. Two-light pointed windows sit beneath hoodmoulds with headstops, with a three-light window at the east end. Prominent stone copings mark each gable end. A moulded stone cornice continues around the top of the building, and a sill continues beneath the windows. Irregularly shaped and placed buttresses rise the full height of the elevations. The west elevation has a wide central buttress. Two two-light pointed windows are positioned high in the wall either side. The buttress supports the surmounting stone bell turret whose open base leads up to a diminishing octagonal spire.
A priest’s door can be seen in the south chancel wall which is blocked from the inside. There is a small blocked former squint next to it, and another similar blocked opening in the wall of the north organ chamber, this was presumably relocated here in the 19th century.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
14th Century
West window - medieval fragments and 14th century Flemish inserts
Stained Glass
15th Century
Vestry, north window - 15th century figure of St John
Stained Glass
1894
North chancel window – depicts two female figures holding models of buildings. Signed by Kempe & Co, in memory of Charlotte Fenton, d.1894
Stained Glass
1910
East window – Attributed to Kempe & Co
Stained Glass
1872
South chancel window –St John the Evangelist and St James, in memory of Kirkby Fenton, d.1872. Attributed to Kempe & Co
Stained Glass
1907
South choir window – depicts two female figures including Mary and child, in memory of Mary Augusta Fenton, 1907. Attributed to Kempe & Co
Nave
19th century 4-bay aisleless nave
Vestry
19th century
North
Porch
19th century
South
Chancel
19th century
Spire
19th century with bell turret
Building Materials
Sandstone
13th Century
Coal Measure Sandstone
Sandstone
13th Century
Hartshill Sandstone
Sandstone
19th century polygonal shaped sandstone rubble and sandstone ashlar dressings
Clay
19th century plain clay roof tiles with blue ridge tiles
Interior
Interior Description
The porch is raised by a single step. The time-worn oak door into the church has large scrolling ironwork. The 4-bay nave is level and the aisle, though obscured by a carpet runner, is paved with red and black floor tiles, with iron grates to the sides. Level timber pew platforms either side have fixed oak pews. Six wrought-iron candelabra are fixed to the pews at intervals.
The walls have been coated in a rough painted plaster. The roof is formed by five-bay hammer-beam trusses resting on stone corbels. Wooden carved angels are fixed to each hammer-beam. The font is positioned in the south-west corner with rails around it. A north vestry opposite the south porch is entered beneath a pointed archway. It has a single north light.
Where there isn’t stained glass the windows have diamond leaded panes with colour limited to the outer edges. Additional light is provided by suspended light fittings with small glass shades.
The chancel is raised by a single step beneath a pointed stone chancel arch. The nave roof continues for 3-bays. The choir is more decorative with encaustic floor tiles and three substantial and fine wall monuments. Carved oak choir stalls with poppy heads and carved frontals are positioned to north and south sides. The organ is recessed beneath a pointed arch to the north. The sanctuary is elevated by a further step and paved with Minton floor tiles. It has a wooden sedilia fixed within the north wall, a piscina in the south wall, and features 19th century stained glass. The altar is raised upon a marble step.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1880
plain wood table with fixed fabric panels,
Reredos
1895
Carved oak with walnut panelling and gilding. Carved figures depict the ascension in the centre with angels and St Theobald and St Chad to either side. Designed by Geldart, made by Bacon.
Pulpit
1880
Stone, built into south-east corner, 1880.
Lectern
19th century brass on scrolling iron base
Font (component)
1880
Stone bowl on octagonal stem, with flat oak cover. In south-west corner. 1880.
Rail
19th century brass rails on brass uprights with wrought-iron decoration
Tomb (component)
Various Tombs, monuments, and effigies; • West wall, south side - stone wall monument tablet to Michael Purefey, d.1570. Grand, columned, tablet with broken entablature and carved arms. Forms a pair with that to the north side, in memory of his wife, Joyce Purefey, d.1585; • West wall, centre – marble cartouche with drapery around and a winged angel’s head below, to Nathan Wright, 1721; • North nave – simple marble wall tablet with sarcophagus in memory of John Warner, d.1820, and his wife, d.1825; • North chancel – alabaster monument with two armoured kneeling effigies of William Purefey, d.1616, and his son Francis, d.1613, set within round-arched niches. Marble columns either side. Painted marble. Family arms above. It is thought that a Purefey tomb once stood to the south of the chancel which was dismantled and removed in 1766, with monuments restored and re-erected in 1960; • South chancel – a single kneeling knighted effigy of Michael Purefey, d.1627, set within architectural surround. Achievement in lozenge above; • South chancel – alabaster tablet between Corinthian marble columns, to George Abbott, d.1648, who defended the hall against Royalist attack in 1642, the story is described in the tablet; • South nave – marble tablet in memory of Elizabeth Hawes Barrs, d.1818. Signed by Lodge; • South-west corner - 19th century brass plaque to the Townshends;
Organ (component)
1909
2-manual organ to north of chancel. Built by William Hill & Son, 1909. In memory of Jane Townshend, d.1908.
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers date from 1725 [VCH]. Stored at County Records Office.
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 348 951
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
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
Sources
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