St Michael’s and All Angels Church, Eastington
The main structure of the present building came into existence in the 13th century and the tower a little later. It was probably built on the site of an earlier church, which would account for the presence of the unusual Norman font to be found at the west end of the south aisle. The church was originally dedicated to the Virgin Mary but this was changed during the Reformation in the 16th century.
The nave has 6 pointed arches of late Norman or Early English pattern, whilst the windows are of Tudor design. These were probably inserted in place of the smaller decorated windows, two of which still exist at the west end of the north and south aisles. It is thought that this work was done by the Duke of Stafford and Buckingham who was Lord of the Manor in the early 16th century. He was building Thornbury Castle at the time but this was never completed because he was beheaded by order of Henry VII in 1521. The letters S and B are to be found in the spandrels of the south door and in the glass of the choir chamber.
The belfry contains 6 bells which were bought from St Peter’s Church, Frocester, and hung in 1953.
The oldest memorial is a fine brass on a granite slab to be found to the right of the vestry door. This is a memorial to Mistress Knevet who died in 1518. She is wearing a heraldic mantle bearing the coat of arms of her husband, symbolising the care and protection a husband gives to his wife. The coat of arms of her husband are on a brass shield and those of the wife’s family are on a brass lozenge.
There are marks on the outside wall of the church, to the right of the tower steps, said to have been made by Cromwell’s soldiers at the time of the siege of Gloucester in 1643. Eastington Manor, which was the home of Nathaniel Stephens, Lord of the Manor and Member of Parliament for Gloucester at that time, was used as a barracks for Cromwell’s troops. The Manor was demolished in 1779.
There are curious grooves along the grain of the stone in the tower buttress. These are thought to have been made by archers sharpening their arrows whilst at archery practice in the Butts Leaze, which is approached by the bridge over the river Frome at the end of the churchyard.
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
There is now a Church Micro statistics page which can be viewed via the bookmark list
Congratulations to Sladonians for FTF! 