The parish church of ST. MATTHEW is a small building standing on high ground overlooking most of the surrounding country on all sides. The nave dates from about 1150, with many later alterations.
The chancel was rebuilt probably in the 13th century. The church bell bears the date 1664, four years after the restoration. The church was restored in 1844 and in 1908–9; the later medieval windows seem to have been removed and both chancel and nave furnished with windows of 12th-century type. |
Major changes to the church were considered at the time. The top plan of the church, shown left, depicts the building as it is at present. The other two drawing show suggestions put forward by Bidlake prior to the restoration. One shows a vestry added to the side of the chancel and a gallery over the west door for the choir. The third drawing suggests almost doubling the size of the church, with an extra aisle, vestry and organ space.
Perhaps fortunately, because of costs, the plan of St Matthew’s remained as it had been previously. Never the less the appearance of the church was changed quite radically. The whole building had been covered with a cement rendering, this was removed to expose the old stonework, largely uncoursed sandstone rubble. It is generally presumed that the ‘Romanesque style’ windows were also built in at this stage, although I have found no direct reference to them. . |