St Celynin's Church

Heritage listing

Reason for designation: Listed grade I for its outstanding architectural interest as a substantially unaltered late-medival church of great simplicity and historical integrity. Its later fittings reflect the essentially traditional, vernacular character of the locality, and the virtually complete set of named pews gives a rare and remarkable insight into C19 social history. History: The first documented reference to a church here is the Valuation of Norwich of 1254, but the character of the present fabric suggests a building of the late C15 or early C16. Dendrochronology has provided a date range 1502-30 for the felling of timber for the roof trusses, and 1497-1533 for re-used panels in the chancel screen. Although the church retains considerable consistency in its construction, the masonry of the W and E walls differs in character from that of the N and S: the W wall has a pronounced battered plinth capped by a distinctive band of projecting stone, and it is therefore likely that this wall was at some time rebuilt. The masonry of the E wall also suggesst a different building date, and its window is probably early C19. With only minor changes to the fenestration in the early C19, and again in 1917 when the church was restored by Harold Hughes, the building strongly retains the character of a late medieval church. Exterior: A parish church with nave and chancel under a single roof of notably wide plan, with S porch incorporating a bellcote. Of local coursed stone, roughly dressed, with distinctive large stones visible in the upper courses, particularly in the S wall. It has also been suggested that the stonework in the lower courses may be a survival from the earlier church on the site. A raised band is below the eaves in the N and S walls. The slate roof has tiled crest

From Cadw under OGL v3.