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I Location

II General Description

Chancel with vestry, nave and S porch rebuilt 1870 and W towerc.1400. 12thc. N and S doorways re-set during rebuilding. Only the S doorway is carved. There is also a carved font.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) S doorway

Round-headed. This has been reset, apparently with considerable modifications, and now has one order of shafts and two orders in the archivolt, no tympanum.

Dimensions

First order

Plain, square chamfered plinths with scotia bases and engaged nook-shafts.

L capital: Double trumpet scallop with the trumpet on the angle shared between two shields. The shields are recessed and there are plain fillets in the tucks between the trumpets. No necking. Chamfered impost with a groove on the face.

R capital: As L capital.

The arch is of plain, square-section with nine irregularly sized voussoirs.

Second order (archivolt only)

Thick keeled angle roll with thin roll-moulding outside it. Plain, chamfered label with one row of square billets on the chamfer.

3. Exterior Decoration

d. Miscellaneous

(i) Corbel

There is a small, sculpted animal-head corbel with horns and ears set above the apex of the S doorway.

V Furnishings

1. Fonts

(i)

Irregular, bucket-shaped bowl with a row of separate, raised flower, star or cross forms immediately below the rim. these include Maltese crosses with rounded terminals; a five-pointed star with a drilled centre; six-pointed star on a circular patera; various rosettes, and a triskele. To the E, immediately below a Maltese cross is an eight-petalled daisy. The bowl is set on its original cylindrical stem, which is decorated at the top with a raised band of single directional chevron pointing clockwise. Both bowl and stem are heavily retooled. The stem in turn stands on a double-roll base, the lower roll carved with cable. This might not be original.

VII History

In early times Bishampton was part of the manor of Fladbury and came into the possession of the monastery of Worcester when Fladbury was given to it. In 1086 the church was a chapel of Fladbury and the overlord was the Bishop of Worcester. His under-tenant was Roger de Lacy. He was banished for his share in the rebellion against William Rufus, and his forfeited estates were bestowed on his brother Hugh de Lacy, who was the owner in 1108-18. He died without male issue and his estates passed to his two sisters. There was a priest and possibly a church at Bishampton in 1086. The advowson evidently belonged to Pipards manor, for Robert de Somery presented in 1286.

VIII Comments/Opinions

cf. less complicated fonts with similar decoration at Bricklehampton and South Littleton, Worcestershire.

IX Bibliography