Church update : St Michael & All Angels, Ledbury

Let's go back to number 12 in this series, the parish church of Ledbury in Herefordshire. On my second trip i was able to explore more of the church including the separate bell tower. Unfortunately, i was unable to enter the main building, maybe it will be a third time lucky some time in the future.

Ledbury arrival

On a cold Winter's day in Herefordshire.

Ledbury

It has been a long time since my last trip to Ledbury (over seven years in fact!) so it was high time i went back to update my photographs. In fact i wanted to take a proper look at the church as i remember that the Sun had been in an awkward position last time so i had not been satisfied with my photographs. I think the new batch are better, but you can compare 2017 with 2024 if you like!

Priories (6) : Leominster

A monastery was established in Leominster perhaps as early as the seventh century. This monastery later became a nunnery but collapsed after the kidnap of the abbess Eadgifu by the Danes in 1046. In the 12th century Reading Abbey established a Benedictine priory in Leominster. The priory was quite possibly built on top of the earlier Saxon religious sites.

The priory was destroyed in 1539 when most of the monastic buildings including part of the priory church were lost. Most of the church survived and continues to serve as a parish church to this day.

Churches (156) : Priory Church, Leominster

The Priory Church (dedicated to St Peter and St Paul) in Leominster, Herefordshire was originally a Benedictine priory built in the 13th century, possibly on the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon monastery. In 1539 the East side of the church, and most of the monastic buildings, were destroyed but the rest of the priory survived to become a parish church.

The church has a two-tier West tower, a South aisle which dates from the 16th century and a North aisle dates from the 19th. The church is built from ashlar sandstone.

Churches (141) : St Nicholas, Hereford

One of the final churches of Hereford, St Nicholas is near to the cathedral though a much younger church being built on 1841. It was built on the site of an earlier church built in the 13th century which was demolished in 1840 and also next to the former Monastery of the White Friars. The church is in the Early English style. The original font was reused in the new church.

The church has a West tower and an East chancel and vestry. The church was built from hammer dressed stone.

Churches (114) : St Peter, Hereford

The collegiate church of St Peter is the oldest parish church in the city of Hereford dating from 1074CE. The current church dates mostly from the 13th and 14th centuries. It has a nave, chancel, South aisle and a tower with a spire. One of the bells in the tower is thought to have been the Common Bell which was rung to give warning of emergencies to the people of Hereford. The church was restored in 1885.

The church is from ashlar sandstone and rubble.

Approaching Leominster

In Herefordshire.

Leominster

Yesterday i visited Leominster in Herefordshire, a nice little market town though quite similar to a number of others i have visited. There is indeed a bit of a template these towns largely follow; Medieval church, Victorian buildings, old signs, antique shops, ruined by too much traffic! At least in Leominster's case there was a bit of a one-way system so it avoided the endless roar of Range Rovers that ruins places like Moreton-in-Marsh. The church, a former priory, was also rather fine. You can see my photos here.

Churches (105) : All Saints, Hereford

The church of All Saints in Hereford has existed since the early 1300s it replaced a church from the previous century which collapsed. The church has a nave, chancel, North and South chapels and a tower with a spire. The spire learnt over for centuries due to problems with the church foundations until extensive rebuilding work in the 1990s. It's spire still has a twist due to the rusting of the metal fixings of the stone in the spire.

The church is built from coursed rubble. The church has the second largest chained library in England, the largest being in the cathedral a short walk away!

Churches (94) : St Paul, Tupsley

The parish church of St Paul in Tupsley (nowadays a suburb of Hereford) was built in the 1860s to save parishioners from having to walk miles to the nearest church. After money had been raised and land donated by the diocese, the corner stone was laid in 1864 and completed the following year. The church has a South West tower, a nave with North and South aisles and a chancel.

The church is built from course dressed rubble with ashlar sandstone detailing.

Happy in Hereford

Yesterday I went to Hereford, somewhere I have been before but I always wonder why I do not go more regularly as it is a very fine city, with very rich ecclesiastical architectural treasures. I managed to hunt down no fewer than four parish churches, plus the lovely cathedral of course. I was also able to update my images of the railway station. You can see my photos here.

Cathedrals (4) : Hereford

Hereford has been the seat of a Bishop since Saxon times, as far back as 680CE. The first cathedral dates from the 7th century though by Norman times was in ruins. The oldest part of the current cathedral, which is dedicated to St Mary the Virgin and St Ethelbert the King, date from the reconstruction begun by Robert of Lorraine who was made Bishop in 1079CE. The surviving parts of the church from this time include the Bishop's chapel and the nave arcade.

Further additions and reconstructions, as is common with most churches of any vintage, took place over the following centuries. The central tower was rebuilt in the 14th century. A Western tower added in the 15th. This tower collapsed in 1786 devastating the Western parts of the cathedral. The cathedral was restored in the mid-19th and early 20th centuries.

The cathedral of course is filled with historic artefacts (including the 13th century Mappa Mundi), tombs and monuments. 

Churches (48) : St James the Great, Colwall

The church of St James the Great is over a kilometre to the South West of the centre of the Herefordshire village of Colwall which is near to the Malvern hills. There has a church on the site since Saxon times with the oldest parts of the current church, which dates from the 12th century, including the South doorway Norman. The church is built from grey, brown and red sandstone.

The South aisle dates from the 13th century. The tower is a mix of 14th and 15th centuries. The nave roof probably dates from the 16th century. A three bay chancel was added in the 19th century as was a North aisle for children from the grammar school.

Coming to Colwall at last

Back in March I tried to get to Colwall but an issue with the trains meant I had to visit Malvern instead (which is not hardship though). However today i finally made it to Colwall in Herefordshire and what a lovely little village it is. The parish church is a bit of a walk from the village but was worth it. You can see my photos here.

Churches (12) : St Michael & All Angels, Ledbury

St Michael & All Angels is the parish church of the Herefordshire town of Ledbury and is one of the finest churches in the county. The current church dates from the 12th century though the site was used for Christian worship since the 8th century.

Some parts of the original Norman building remain, notably the West door and chancel. A separate bell tower was added to the church in the 13th century, it may have been used as part of Ledbury's defences against Welsh attacks (the town being close to the border). The aisles were made wider and higher in the 15th century and the church took on the form it is in today.

The church suffered damage in the Civil War, Ledbury being the scene of fighting between the Royalists and Roundheads, musket shot damage can still be seen on the North doors. The church was renovated in the 19th and 20th centuries with new pews, stained glass and interior decorations plus repairs to the church which has grown neglected in the century before.