St Mary's Church, Halford
| Church of St Mary, Halford | |
|---|---|
 | |
Church of St Mary, Halford | |
| 52°06′29.88″N 1°37′24.67″W / 52.1083000°N 1.6235194°W | |
| SP 25881 45615 | |
| Location | Halford, Warwickshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 13 October 1966 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Coventry |
Listed Building – Grade II* | |
Official name | Church of St Mary |
| Designated | 13 October 1966 |
| Reference no. | 1185710 |
The Church of St Mary is an Anglican church in the village of Halford, in Warwickshire, England, and in the Diocese of Coventry.[1] The building dates from the 12th and 13th centuries, and was much restored in the 19th century. It is Grade II* listed.[2]
History and description
There is a nave and chancel, and a south aisle, west of which is the tower. There was much restoration in 1862 and 1883, but notable features remain from the 12th and 13th centuries.[2][3]
The semi-circular chancel arch, and a niche adjacent to it to the south, and parts of the north wall of the nave, date from the 12th century. There is a small north window, a later replacement of probably a 12th-century window.[2][3]
The north doorway, dating from the mid-12th century, has a semi-circular arch and a tympanum which the listing text remarks "shows one of the earliest known examples of a half-length figure"; it has outspread wings and arms and holds a scroll or ribbon. The gabled porch to the north doorway is thought to be from the 17th or 18th century.[2][3]
The south doorway, also of the 12th century, has a badly weathered arch and an undecorated tympanum.[2][3]
The nave was lengthened in the 13th century, and the chancel is thought to date from this period. The south aisle, with a three-bay arcade (rebuilt in more recent years), and the tower are also of the 13th century.[3]
There is an octagonal stone font dating from the 14th century. Its carved oak cover, of the 16th century, has a pyramid shape with crocketed ribs at the angles, and five mitred heads as the finial.[2][3]
Bells
There are six bells; the treble bell, by John Taylor & Co, was added to the previous ring of five in 2000, with the help of a Millenium grant. The fourth bell is of unknown date, thought to be 14th-century. There are two bells dating from the late 16th century, one of 1639, and a bell by John Taylor dated 1883, which is a recast of a 15th-century bell.[4]
Churchyard
A chest tomb of 1799, about 12 metres north east of the chancel, and a headstone of 1682, about 1 metre from the south-east corner of the south aisle, are listed Grade II.[5][6]
See also
References
- ↑ "St Mary's Church, Halford: More information" A Church Near You. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Historic England. "Church of St Mary (1185710)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 'Parishes: Halford', in A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 5, Kington Hundred, ed. L F Salzman (London, 1949) British History Online. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "Halford" Church Bells of Warwickshire. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ Historic England. "Chest Tomb Approximately 12 Metres North East of Chancel of Church of St Mary (1299522)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ Historic England. "Headstone Approximately 1 Metre South East of South Aisle of Church of St Mary (1355482)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 12 June 2026.