All Saint’s Church – Lydiard Millicent
The church sits in relatively small grounds, bordered on East and South sides by roads and stone walls of unknown age. The North and West brick boundary walls date from 1715. Entrance to the grounds is either via a set of stone steps to the South, or a gate with an archway (date unknown). The clock on the bell tower was installed as a war memorial after WWII.
On the Southern part of the grounds many headstones and tombs survive, albeit in increasingly poor condition, 6 of which are listed and go back to 1707. Of most historical significance is the churchyard cross, the shaft is believed to be Saxon and was probably the baluster mullion of a window of that period, providing some hint to the existence of a pre-Norman church. Headstones in the northern grounds have been uplifted and the area is now grass.
The earliest documentary record of the building goes back to 1060, when William FitzOsbern endowed his possessions in England, part of which was the Church of Lydiard Millicent, although little evidence exists of a building before the 14th century.
Entering the church through the South porch, you arrive in the south aisle which is 14th century, recent dendrochronology has dated a roof timber as being cut down in 1341, and used by 1345.
Straight ahead is the oldest internal feature, the Norman font, dating from mid 12th century. The east window is a stunning piece from Margaret Edith Rope ("Tor") installed in 1963.
The nave and 2/3 of the chancel are 15th century, probably around 1457, when Turgis was granted a royal licence to rebuild the Parish Church, and the tower a little later. Under the nave, adjacent to the font, is the Kibblewhite vault, which contains 18 interments from 1814 to 1895. The end 1/3 of the chancel dates to 1870 when an extension was added, retaining the 15th century east window.
The vestry contains a Saxon frieze, found in the wall infill during the 1870 extension. The western tower contains 6 bells, the oldest three bells date from 1712, two more were put in place in 1906 and a third in 1932, these were restored in 2003. The organ, built in Bibury Church in 1868 by Mr Nicholson of Worchester and restored in 1964, sits in the base of the tower.
Please take a few moments to look around the Church, this series is about the destination, not just a smiley!!
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If any body would like to expand to this series please do, I would just ask that you could let Sadexploration know first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid duplication
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