Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Heritage listing

Details SY 19 NE OFFWELL OFFWELL 3/115 Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary - 22.2.55 GV I Parish church. C13 origins and some parts may be that early but most was rebuilt in the C15, much restored by the Reverend Edward Copleston, Bishop of Llandaff and Dean of St Pauls (d. 1849), and refurbished in 1874 according to dated rainwater head. Local stone and flint rubble with Beerstone quoins and detail; slate roof. Plan: the nave with narrower and lower chancel is not quite full length; the chapel is now used as a bapistry. C15 west tower. Early C19 south porch and late C19 vestry on south side of the chancel. Exterior: the west tower is 2 stages with diagonal buttresses, embattled parapet and semi-octagonal stair turret projecting from the north side. The belfry has single and double lancets with Beerstone grilles. The tower west doorway is a 2- centred arch with moulded surround and directly above is a 3-light window with Perpendicular tracery. Around the church most of the windows were replaced in the C19 and the gable-ends have C19 shaped kneelers, coping and apex crosses. The south side of the nave is 3 bays, the centre one with the doorway and gabled porch with diagonal buttresses. The outer arch is a 2-centred arch in Early English style; moulded surround with caps to the shafts, a band of ballflower decoration and hoodmould with badges carved on the label stops. Above is an old sundial. The porch has a cobbled floor and the south doorway is a plain 2-centred arch. Either side of the porch are square-headed 3-light windows with trefoil-headed lights (there are 3 more on the north side of the aisle). The south side of the chancel has a single rectangular light since most of this side lies behind the C19 gabled vestry which contains a window with Decorated tracery. The

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.