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

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

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

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

  1. ^ a b c d e Verey & Brooks 2000, pp. 617–618.
  2. ^ a b c d England, Historic. "CHURCH OF ALL HALLOWS, South Cerney – 1340977- Historic England". historicengland.org.uk.
  3. ^ Churches, Churnside. "Churnside Churches – South Cerney". www.churnsidechurches.org.uk.
  4. ^ "All Hallows Church, South Cerney – Reports Archive". Reports.cotswoldarchaeology.co.uk. Retrieved 19 May 2018.
  5. ^ a b Trust, South Cerney. "South Cerney Trust – Head and Foot". www.southcerneytrust.org.uk.
  6. ^ "The South Cerney Head". British Museum.
  7. ^ Fund, Art. "Two fragments of a crucifix by Unknown Artist".

Sources