| Summary : The church consists of a three-bay aisled nave with the aisles extending west to engage the western tower, a south porch and aisless chancel with vestries and organ chamber to the north. It is built of coursed square sandstone on a plinth with ashlar dressings. The roof is of graduated lakeland slate with flat stone gable copings and the broach spire has a lead roof. Most of the building, with the exception of the south porch, belfry stage (and spire) of the tower, and the vestries, is of one building phase and was constructed in the first half of the 13th century. The south porch is of a different type of fabric to the aisle walls but the similarities between the mouldings of the south door and the outer arch of the porch suggests that the porch was added a few years after the church was constructed. The belfry and spire were probably added in the late 13th-14th century. There is little evidence of later medieval work, but this work may have been removed by the 19th century restorations. There were two periods of restoration in the 19th century, the first was carried out by Archdeacon Thorp (incumbent between 1807 and 1863) and the second was in 1878-87. |
More information : NZ 1510 6483. Holy Cross Church (C of E) (NAT). (1)
15/89
21.1.49 Church of Holy Cross
G.V. I
Parish church, 13th century restored 1877-1886. Rainwater heads dated
1826. Coursed squared sandstone with plinth and ashlar dressings;
roof of graduated Lakeland slate with flat stone gable copings; lead
roof to broach spire. Aisled west tower and nave; south porch;
chancel with north vestry. Tower: tall lancet flanked by tall
buttresses; lancets and shouldered belfry openings in upper stages
under flower-decorated corbel table. Aisles have Perpendicular
windows: east and west lancets; north blocked pointed-arched door in
second bay from west; parapets battlemented at west. 2 shafts to 2-
centred doorway of porch which has stone seats; nook shafts to
pointed-arched church door. Chancel has south priest's door under
fifth of 5 lancets; sixth window 2-light Transitional. East front
has almond-shaped window above 3 lancets; 3 stepped buttresses.
Clasping buttresses to aisles and chancel; head-stopped-chamfered
buttress between third and fourth lancets of chancel. Chancel blind
on north. Interior: painted rubble, some plaster. Crown-post nave
roof; 19th century square-panelled chancel roof. Double-chamfered
arches spring from corbels on square piers of open tower, some
with nail-head decoration. Mask corbels to double-chamfered 3-bay
nave arcades on octagonal piers at east, round piers at west. Dado of
re-used box pews with diabolo balustrade panels. Tree painting on
plaster reveals of west window. 19th century carved oak pulpit on
Frosterley marble columns and octagonal stone pedestal; 17th century
figures on ends of choir stalls; re-used rood screen. Mural brasses
to members of Bunny family, including Francis, rector of Ryton,
died 1617. C13 Stanhope marble effigy of priest in chancel. 2
hatchments in south aisle. 14th century Flemish glass re-used in west
window, east bay of chancel, and south aisle, all restored by W.
Wailes c.1848. East window by Kempe 1884; east window in south aisle
1889 by H. Holliday. 1886 spiral stair to tower of slender wooden
ogee-arched construction. Source: D. A. Briggs and N.I. Dugdale Holy
Cross Church (Gloucester n.d.). (2)
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