St Cosmas and St Damian's Church, Stretford
St Cosmas and St Damian's Church is a redundant Anglican church standing in a farmyard in Stretford, Herefordshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building,[1] and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[2] The church is dedicated to Saints Cosmas and Damian, patron saints of physicians and surgeons.[2]
History
The church originates from the 12th century, it was extended in the 13th century, and partly rebuilt during the following century.[1] The roof was constructed in about 1540.[2] The church underwent a Victorian restoration in 1875 and further restoration in 1922.[1] The church was declared redundant on 1 December 1972, and was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust on 25 January 1974.[3]
Architecture
Exterior
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/OS_Benchmark_St_Cosmas_and_St_Damians.jpg/220px-OS_Benchmark_St_Cosmas_and_St_Damians.jpg)
The church is almost as wide as it is long.[2] It is constructed in coursed rubble stone with ashlar dressings, and it has a machine-tile roof. Its plan consists of two naves and two chancels in parallel under a single roof, and a south porch. At the west end is a shingled bellcote with a small broach spire. In the north wall are a large lancet window, a small window with a semicircular head, and a blocked door with a semicircular head. The west window of the north nave has a two-light window with another circular window above it. The east window also has two lights. On the south side of the church are two lancet windows and a timber porch. At the entrance to the porch is an arch-braced tie-beam. The west window has two lights and the east window has three lights.[1]
Interior
Dividing the naves and chancels is a central arcade in three bays. In the north wall are two tomb recesses, each containing two effigies dating probably from the 14th century.[1] These are thought to represent members of the Delabere family who lived locally. The naves are divided from the chancels by two large 16th-century wooden screens. In the middle of the screens is a Jacobean pulpit.[2] Each screen is in two bays, with a central door.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d e f Historic England, "Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, Monkland and Stretford (1349846)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 23 October 2013
- ^ a b c d e Church of St Cosmas & St Damian, Stretford, Herefordshire, Churches Conservation Trust, retrieved 29 March 2011
- ^ Diocese of Hereford: All Schemes (PDF), Church Commissioners/Statistics, Church of England, 2011, p. 4, retrieved 11 April 2011