| Old St Bartholomew's Church, Lower Sapey |
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Old St Bartholomew's Church, Lower Sapey, from the southwest
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Old St Bartholomew's Church,
Lower Sapey |
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| OS grid reference | SO 699 602 |
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| Location | Near Lower Sapey, Worcestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Bartholomew |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 29 July 1959 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman |
| Groundbreaking | Early 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Nave width | 19 feet (5.8 m) |
| Other dimensions | Nave length 34 feet 4 inches (10.5 m) Chancel length 19 feet 8 inches (6.0 m) Chancel width 15 feet (4.6 m) |
| Materials | Sandstone, tile roofs |
Old St Bartholomew's Church, Lower Sapey, is a redundant Anglican church near the village of Lower Sapey, Worcestershire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade II* listed building,[1] and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.[2] The church is also a Scheduled Ancient Monument.[3] It stands on a steep bank above a stream at the end of a winding lane.[2]
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The church dates from the early part of the 12th century. It is likely that an earlier church existed on the site because the Domesday Book records the presence of a priest, but no trace of that church has survived.[4] In the 14th century the south porch was built and a window was added to the south wall of the chancel. During the 19th century further alterations were made, including widening of windows, re-seating the church, and installing a west gallery. It is likely that the chancel arch was removed at this time.[5] The functions of the church were replaced in 1877 by St Bartholomew's Church, Harpley.[4][6] It was then neglected and was used for a time as a farm building.[2] Since 1990 repairs and restoration have been carried out.[2] This has been assisted by the formation of a local trust known as The Friends of Old St. Bartholomew's.[6] The work included reinstating the west gallery. The intention of the restorers was "to make it appear as though we had never been on the site".[7] The church was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust on 21 January 1994.[8]
St Bartholmew's is constructed in sandstone rubble with tile roofs. The exterior of the church is partly rendered.[1] Its plan is simple and consists of a nave, chancel and south porch. The nave measures 34 feet 4 inches (10.5 m) by 19 feet (5.8 m), and the chancel 19 feet 8 inches (6.0 m) by 15 feet (4.6 m). The east window consists of a single light under a pointed arch. On the south wall of the chancel is a window of two trefoiled lights under a square head, to the west of which is a blocked priest's door. On the north wall of the chancel is a narrow round-headed window. The south porch is built in timber on a rubble plinth. It has a gabled roof over curved wind braces. Its walls are weatherboarded, and its bargeboard is decorated with moulding.[1] The doorway is Norman and consists of a single order with a tympanum.[9] In the west wall is a large square-headed 19th-century window over which is a small 12th-century opening. The north wall contains a blocked doorway and a 19th-century window.[1]
The interior of the church is plastered.[5] In the north wall of the chancel are two square aumbries, and in the south wall is a piscina and another square aumbry. Over the east window is a blocked 12th-century window. At the west end of the church is a gallery. Also in the church are the remnants of a circular font base.[1] The Norman bowl of the font has been removed to the new church.[9] On the north wall of the nave are traces of medieval paintings.[1]