After the walk around Kyre Park I had a quick look around St Mary's, Kyre. I have visited before but I only went in the Lady Chapel and I was sure there must be more to see.
The earliest parts of the church are Norman (C12th) as is the font. There are traces below the chancel of an earlier semi circular apse. In the 1300's much of the church was rebuilt in the Decorated style with a trussed rafter roof and the addition of the Lady Chapel. The bell turret with broach spire is probably C17th.
It is always good to find a "Living Churchyard" and there were dozens of Cowslips in flower under a yew tree.
The open entrance door takes you into the Lady Chapel as I discovered on the last visit.
There is a lot of Victorian Stained Glass I am not particularly keen on but I loved these windows in the Lady Chapel by E R Suffling 1897/8.
The butterfly represents the Spirit of Man
Remains of a C14th wall painting in a window embrasure. It represents a saint and although it is not known for certain it could be St Lucy with her candles??
Another window by E R Suffling - the maze represents the life of man.
Memorials
I couldn't find any information on the identity of the following two people.
East window by Suffling
I loved the mythical beasts in the tracery.
On this visit I found the door that led into the nave and chancel.
Norman C12th font.
There were some wonderful designs on the kneelers - I particularly liked the one with the maze.
World War 1 memorial board
Funerary Hatchments
(In the first one the background on the right hand ((dexter) side (left hand side as you look at it!) is white showing the husband was still alive and as the background on the other (Sinister) side is black his wife has died. The second one shows that the husband has died but the wife is still living as there is a black background on the dexter side and white background on the sinister side).
Wall Memorials
The glass in the East Window was restored in Victorian times but the design is far older and is described in Habington's Worcestershire of the C16th.
I got really excited when I looked at the glass in the tracery as it showed the Mortimer Coats of Arms. Many thanks to Hugh and Ian Mortimer's Outline Genealogy of the Mortimers on the Mortimer History Society website which has more information. Elizabeth Mortimer (died 1502) married Thomas West, Baron de la Warr. She was the daughter of Hugh Mortimer (d1460) of Martley Kyre Warward who was descended from Roger Mortimer of Chirk (d1326), uncle of Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March. The arms of Roger of Chirk's line have the inescutecheon ermine instead of an argent (silver/white) one).
Norman window in the nave
The church is next to Kyre House
As usual, I managed to miss an important item and I am still kicking myself if of course it is on display. The church has a copy of the Geneva (breeches) bible printed in 1578. This is one of the most historically important transations of the bible into English, preceding the King James version by 51 years.
We left Herefordshire the following day on the Sunday and hopefully will return soon.
All photos taken by me with the Panasonic Lumix FZ330 bridge camera. (I don't particularly rate my photos but if anyone wishes to use one of mine or my son's I would appreciate an email first - thanks).
Reference:
Information on leaflet in St Mary's, Kyre,
Mortimer History Society Website
Kyre Park website
