Diameter: 34.75" Bell 1 of 2
Founded by Richard Keene 1694
Dove Bell ID: 57519 Tower ID: 22066 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Merton: St Swithun
Overview
Grid reference: SP 577 178
The structure is mostly of 14th century date but was extensively restored by C. Buckeridge in 1865/6.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave, south aisle and south porch, west tower and chancel.
Footprint of Church buildings: 361 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The structure is mostly of 14th century date but was extensively restored by C. Buckeridge in 1865/6.
Since the time it was built in the 14th century, this church has suffered the loss of the north aisle, which was pulled down in the 15th or 16th centuries, and of the spire, which was taken down in 1796 because it was said to be 'Out of the perpendical'.
Exterior Description
The west tower of the church is of three stages, with large clasping buttresses to the external corners of the lowest stage, the west face of this stage has a single-light ogee-headed window, with a crocketed niche about it. The central section has a single small lancet window in the south and west faces, and the bell-stage has wider lancet windows with two-centred heads and 'y' tracery on all four faces. The belfry is capped by a moulded string-course, and a parapet with decoration in the form of cusped saltires. It seems likely that this parapet is a 19th century addition.
The building is constructedof limestone, which has weathered to a silvery-grey colour; the nave roof has coverings of lead, and the chancel of blue slate. Neither the nave nor the chancel have roof-parapets. The north wall of the nave has a curious appearance, in consequence of the aisle having been removed; the three arches of the north arcades were filled in, and the decorated windows moved from the aisle to the nave wall. The two outer windows are of two cusped lights with a quatrefoil in the tracery, between them is a small single-light window with a blocked pointed doorway below it. At the head of the wall are three Perpendicular clerestorey windows, each of two short cusped lights set under a square head. The surface of the wall has at some time been rendered, but the outline of the blocked arches, and the abutment of the aisle roof can be clearly discerned.
The south aisle, which is extant, has a lean-to roof with a plain parapet, having a moulded lower edge and flat copings. The clerestorey above the aisle is of the same pattern as on the north side, and the windows are spaced in a similgr way, the centre window being closer to its westward neighbour. To the west of the porch is, first, a window of three cusped lights with Perpendicular tracery under a slightly pitched flat-sided label-moulding, and next to it another window of two trefoiled lights with a boldly cusped quatrefoil. The porch itself is of stone, and windowless; the outer doorway has a moulded, two-centred head With a drip-moulding. The eastern window of the south aisle has three cusped lights, the centre light with an ogee head and curvilinear tracery.
All the exterior wall surfaces of the chancel are rendered, and on all three sides there is a string-course or drip-moulding about three feet above the ground. The north wall is blind, with a very small blocked window low down towards the western end. In the south wall of the chancel, at the west end, is a tall window with two tiers of two lights; the lower lights have sexfoiled heads, the upper lights are trefoiled. To the east of this window is a small doorway with chamferedjambs and a pointed rip-moulding with plain stops. The head of the doorway interrupt the line of the string-course, which is therefore stilted upwards to form a square-headed drip-moulding above the pointed one. Eastwards again are two more windows with two tiers of two lights.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
In the head of the east window of the south aisle is a fragment of medieval stained glass. Otherwise the windows are clear glazed throughout.
Interior
Interior Description
Internally, the chancel, which is not exactly orientated, but inclines slightly towards the north, contains three stone sedilia, a piscina and a tomb recess in the south wall, and an aumbry in the north wall. All these features. are in a good state of preservation with crockets and pinnacles substantially intact. The floor of the chancel is of stone flags, with many tomb slabs inset, and the roof, which dates from the 19th century, has king-posts and tie-beams with curved braces; the braces and wall-posts are brought down onto elaborately carved 14th century corbels.
The nave on the south side has four early 14th century arches set on octagonal piers with moulded capitals. The roof of the nave was re-built in the late 15th century to accommodate the clerestorey, and the present roof is partially of this date although restored by Professor A.E. Richardson in 1935 after being damaged by fire. The wall poste in this case rest on well-carved corbel-heads, while the 14th century chancel arch has a double-chamfered arch with elaborately carved imposts.
The three-light window in the east wall of the south aisle is flanked by two small piscinas with crocketedsurrounds; in the south wall of the aisle are a piscine and seclilia and a stoup by the entrance door. All these features appear to be medieval and arc in good condition. The lean-to roof of the aisle is modern.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
17th Century
A fine hexagonal timber pulpit of 17th century date, resting on a central post, to which are attached the braces for the pulpit floor. The body of the pulpit is decorated with two tiers of panels with carving in low relief; the lower tier have the frequently used round-arch motif.
Altar
16th Century
The small 16th century wooden communion table has a detached slab top.
Stall
The substantial wooden choir stalls have large carved poppy-heads which are either in the form of pairs of praying angels, or of pairs of mermaids.
Font (object)
A medieval stone tub font resting on an octagonal pillar.
Font (component)
17th Century
The font-cover dates from the 17th century and, according to Dunkin, formerly bore the date 1639 and the initials 'HK'.
Bells
Weight: 113 lbs Diameter: 17.75" Bell 2 of 2
Founded by Gillett & Co 1887
Dove Bell ID: 57520 Tower ID: 22066 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 577 178
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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