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I Location

II General Description

Aisleless church with chancel, nave, S porch, vestry and 15thc. W tower. Both nave and chancel are pre-1100 (Pevsner) and are probably of 1080 (Church Guide). Sculpture is found on the N and S doorways to the nave, N and S chancel windows and the recut font. A number of later windows have been inserted and there are many alterations ofc.1800, in red brick. The original nave and chancel are of local red sandstone, and the tower of grey sandstone.

III Exterior Features

1. Doorways

(i) S doorway, nave

Round-headed of two orders. Protected by brick porch ofc.1800.

Dimensions

First order

Plain, square jambs and plain chamfered imposts. The arch is plain and square with irregular-sized voussoirs.

Second order

Square plinth and round bases with a torus. Detached nook-shafts, both keeled at the back, and block capitals.

The capitals have eroded necking and integral abaci.

L capital: inverted bell-shape with no trace of carving.

R capital: drum-shaped with outward flare at top; with no trace of carving.

The imposts are continuous from first order, but with a hollow chamfer. The arch has a thick angle-roll, followed by a groove on face and soffit. The shallow label has two small rolls flanked by fillets, separated by a shallow hollow.

(ii) N doorway, nave

Round-headed, of two orders, with tympanum. The first order has been blocked in its lower half to form a square window opening. In the second order, on the R, the jambs and the springer have been removed to make way for a buttress. The doorway is extremely weathered.

Dimensions

First order

Plain, square with plain tympanum resting on the jambs.

Second order

L side only. No base, plain detached nook-shaft, keeled at the back, the lower part restored. The capital is coursed with the masonry of the jambs.

L capital: above plain necking the capital is voluted on the angle, the volute formed by a shallow-carved, flat "tendril" (Pevsner) extending diagonally from the bottom of N and W faces to the angle. The impost is plain and square. The arch is plain and square and consists of two courses of voussoirs, with heavy cement pointing. The label is plain and square, although weathering may have obliterated any detail.

Total w. across arch mouldings identical with S doorway. The diam. of the tympanum is identical to w. of arch of S doorway.

2. Windows

(i) N window, chancel

Round-headed lancet, of one order. Attic bases on rounded plinths, which are formed by the stone of the sill, cut away between the plinths in a deep chamfer. Monolithic, thick nook-shafts (possibly restored), support cushion capitals with necking. The capitals are coursed with the masonry of the jambs, which consist of roughly squared blocks of stone, apart from the lowest course on the L, which appears to be restored. Extremely weathered shallow imposts with a slight chamfer. The arch has a thick nook-roll and plain voussoirs. Internally, splayed plastered reveals.

Dimensions

(ii) S window, chancel.

Now blocked. The line of the L jamb, the impost and part of the arch mouldings survive. A later window has been inserted on the R. Originally the window matched the N window in position and probably design. No vestige visible internally.

V Furnishings

1. Fonts

(i)

Red sandstone octagonal font reduced to square shaft standing on modern splayed base. Plain surfaces. Dates from early 12thc. (VCH).

Dimensions

VII History

Dugdale's 'Antiquities of Warwickshire' states: The church here was very antiently given by the Prior of Coventre unto the Cathedral of Lichfield.... and in 1291 was valued at XV marks. Note: No other history available.

VIII Comments/Opinions

IX Bibliography