Church of All Hallows, South Cerney
| Church of All Hallows, South Cerney | |
|---|---|
| Church of All Hallows | |
 The church from the churchyard | |
  Church of All Hallows, South Cerney Location in Gloucestershire | |
| 51°40′30″N 1°55′45″W / 51.6749°N 1.9292°W | |
| Location | South Cerney, Gloucestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | C13th-C14th century |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 26 November 1958 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Parish | South Cerney |
| Clergy | |
| Vicar(s) | The Revd Jennifer Mary McKenzie |
The Church of All Hallows is an Anglican parish church in the village of South Cerney, Gloucestershire. The church is of Norman origins, with medieval alterations and a major restoration in the 19th century. A Grade I listed building, it remains an active parish church.
History
[edit]The origin of the church is Norman, when the benefice was in the possession of Gloucester Abbey.[1] It was repeatedly altered in the medieval period. The spire on the tower was destroyed by lightning in 1857 and never reconstructed.[1] The church was thoroughly restored by James Piers St Aubyn in 1862.[2] All Hallows is an active parish church serving the parishes of South Cerney and Cerney Wick.[3]
An archaeological investigation in the churchyard in 1999 discovered a number of medieval burial pits, which appeared to have been reconstructed in the 19th century rebuilding.[4]
Architecture and description
[edit]The church consists of a central tower, without its original spire, a nave and South aisle, and a chancel of 14th century origin.[1] The porch is a 19th-century addition.[2] The "very elaborate" doorway is Norman, although moved to its present position by St Aubyn.[1] Pevsner records the similarities to that in the church at Mesland near Blois in France.[1] The interior contains a number of important wall monuments in marble, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries.[2] The church is a Grade I listed building.[2]
The South Cerney Christ
[edit]In 1912, two fragments, a head and a foot, from a large figure of Christ were discovered in a wall cavity in the nave. The Christ, of medieval date, is likely to have been concealed during the Reformation but its history is largely unknown.[5] The two pieces were sold by the church and purchased by the British Museum,[6] with the aid of a grant from the Art Fund.[7] Replicas are displayed in the church.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e Verey & Brooks 2000, pp. 617–618.
- ^ a b c d England, Historic. "CHURCH OF ALL HALLOWS, South Cerney – 1340977- Historic England". historicengland.org.uk.
- ^ Churches, Churnside. "Churnside Churches – South Cerney". www.churnsidechurches.org.uk.
- ^ "All Hallows Church, South Cerney – Reports Archive". Reports.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
- ^ a b Trust, South Cerney. "South Cerney Trust – Head and Foot". www.southcerneytrust.org.uk.
- ^ "The South Cerney Head". British Museum.
- ^ Fund, Art. "Two fragments of a crucifix by Unknown Artist".
Sources
[edit]- Verey, David; Brooks, Alan (2000). Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds. The Buildings of England. New Haven, US and London: Yale University Press. ISBN 9780300097337. OCLC 863472443.