Nominal: 755 Hz Weight: 1283 lbs Diameter: 41.5" Bell 1 of 6
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1892
Dove Bell ID: 1640 Tower ID: 15665 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Claverdon: St Michael & All Angels
Overview
Grid reference: SP 198 645
The church (listed grade II*) consists of a chancel with an organ-chamber to the north and vestry to the south, nave, north and south aisles, and west tower. The construction is mainly of limestone with slate roofs. The oldest distinguishable part of the current church is the chancel arch which dates from 1350, although the Domesday survey records a priest in residence in 1086 suggesting possible earlier origins.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 274 m²
Exterior Description
The 15th Century west tower is built of coursed rubble walling faced with plain ashlar. It had a major restoration in 1956. The tower contains a ring of six bells: they were originally cast in 1757 using some metal from the previous bells. They were recast in 1830 with two needig to be recast again in 1892 and rehung on ball bearings in 1956.
Building Fabric and Features
Tower (component)
Tower in Perpendicular style of grey stone
Nave
19th Century Rebuilt 1825-7, at a cost of £1200, from a charity founded by John Matthews in 1525. Originally it had large square-headed windows and a slate roof.
Historical Notes
1825 - 1827
Period Qualifier: 1
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 1
Ewan Christian designed the 1877-8 rebuilding of the nave costing £2530 and fitted with 'new and massive benches of oak' (Kelly). Rebuilt in Decorated style, including arcades with octagonal pillars and moulded capitals, a clearstory and arch-braced roof.
Chancel
Church Commissioners files record: June 9, 1863 the parish hoped to spend £700-800 on enlargements including to the chancel by architect, G.H.Robinson of Leamington. 30th October architect Ewan Christians designs and reports the chancel estimate for a better roof, replastering and raising the floor, etc - £120 and new seating and rail £30. The enlargement and restoration was postponed until 1876 when Arthur Shesby of Leamington was accepted as the contractor for the chancel for £350, including the new East window. By February 7, 1877 the rebuilding of was underway and Ewan Christian thought the chancel should be rebuilt at an extra cost of £68. It is assumed but not stated that Christian designed the rebuilding of the nave costing £2530 and fitted them with new oak benches. However the chancel was not rebuilt, only altered. A vestry was added on the South, an organ chamber to the North, the roof and East window were refitted. To the North of the chancel is the tomb of Thomas Spencer of Claverdon d.1586. Canon Clarke wonders if chancel was rebuilt at the same time as the monument or if the chancel was rebuilt in the early C17th round the monument.
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 1
Arcade
19th Century Arcades with octagonal pillars and moulded capitals, clearstory above added as part of 1877-8 Nave rebuild.
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 2
Clerestory
19th Century Clearstory added as part of the 1877-8 nave rebuild.
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 2
Roof
19th Century Originally flat, but arch-braced roof rebuilt over nave 1877-8.
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 1
Arch-braced roof rebuilt over nave 1877-8.
Vestry
19th Century Added later to South of chancel - probably Ewan Christian 1877-8.
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 2
Organ Loft
19th Century Organ chamber added to North of chancel probably 1877-8 by Ewan Christian.
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 2
Sanctuary
20th Century Sanctuary floor in memory of someone who died in 1914, with carved rails of art-nouveau trees.
Historical Notes
1914 - 1914
Period Qualifier: 1
Building Materials
Limestone
1350
Cotswolds Limestone
Marlstone
1350
Marlstone
Sandstone
1350
Arden Sandstone
Sandstone
1350
Warwick Sandstone
Slate
1350
Slate
Stone
Tower of grey stone
Caen Stone
19th Century Pulpit of Caen stone given by Vicar after 1877-8 rebuild.
Alabaster
16th Century Tomb to Thomas Spencer of Calverton d.1586
Historical Notes
1586 - 1586
Period Qualifier: 2
Interior
Interior Description
The chancel has an east window of three lights and tracery. The stained glass shows our lord enthroned as King of the Angels, and was designed and executed in the late 19th century by C. E. Kempe. The north and south walls of the chancel each have a loate 16th Century window.
On the north side of the chancel is an alabaster tomb and monument to Thomas Spencer, second son of Sir John Spencer of Althorpe, Northants, who died in 1630. The organ was built in 1897 by Nicholson of Worcester, to commemorate the Jubilee of Queen Victoria.
On the south wall of the sanctuary is a memorial to Sir Francis Galton who died in 1911.
The pulpit was erected in 1879 with an inscription 'Clovelly Aug 12 1879' a gift from the then Vicar Rev E A Kempson as a thanks-offering for narrowly escaping drowning with two of his children in a boat off Clovelly. The eagle lecturn ws installed 2 years earlier.
The original nave was most likely of the same date as the chancel around 1350 but in 1828 it was demolished and a new nave built. This was replaced in 1877 with the current nave with clerestory and high pitched roof, the design of Ewan Christian.
The south aisle was aded in 1830 and the north aisle in 1877 as part of the rebuilding.
The church's ancient stone font was removed in 1837 and taken to a neighbouring farmyard for safekeeping during the first rebuilding - it never reappeared and was eventually replaced by the present font in 1853.
The past ten years or so have seen the addition of a boiler room and external lavatory on the north side of the tower - installation of an audio system - the removal of some pews and carpeting to the floor - the installation of a new stained glass window in the south aisle to commemorate the Millennium.
Fixtures and fittings
Stained Glass (window)
19th Century New East window added to chancel 1877-8 by C.E. Kempe.
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 2
Window
16th Century Underneath the tomb in the North chancel, a coffered arch frames a window (3-light, transomed, square-headed). There is a similar one in the South wall and originally also the East wall.
Historical Notes
1500 - 1599
Period Qualifier: 2
Bench Pew
19th Century Part of Ewan Christian's 1877-8 rebuilding of the nave - fitted with 'new & massive benches of oak' (Kelly).
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 2
Pulpit
19th Century Pulpit of Caen stone given by the vicar after 1877-8 rebuild.
Historical Notes
1877 - 1878
Period Qualifier: 2
Lectern
Eagle lectern given by R.N. Phillips, M.P.
Sedilia
Oak altar sedilia were given by Miss Phillips
Altar Rail
Altar rail of carved art nouveau trees
Tomb (component)
16th Century North chancel - tomb of Thomas Spencer of Claverdon, eldest son of Sir John Spencer of Wormleighton, Althorp, who died in 1586. Alabaster tomb chest with elongated Ionic columns supporting an entablature topped by an escutcheon of 7 quartering with helm, crest and mantling. Underneath, a coffered arch, which frames a window. Canon Clarke records that it is thought that the monument is incomplete and a sarcophagus was removed. He was unsure if the chancel was rebuilt at the same time the monument was erected or in the early C17th round the monument.
Historical Notes
1586 - 1586
Period Qualifier: 2
Bells
Nominal: 1267 Hz Weight: 507 lbs Diameter: 28.38" Bell 2 of 6
Founded by Lester & Pack 1757
Dove Bell ID: 16264 Tower ID: 15665 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1130 Hz Weight: 555 lbs Diameter: 29.75" Bell 3 of 6
Founded by John Warner & Sons 1892
Dove Bell ID: 16265 Tower ID: 15665 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1005 Hz Weight: 701 lbs Diameter: 32.5" Bell 4 of 6
Founded by Lester & Pack 1757
Dove Bell ID: 16266 Tower ID: 15665 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 949 Hz Weight: 748 lbs Diameter: 32.88" Bell 5 of 6
Founded by John Taylor & Co 1914
Dove Bell ID: 16267 Tower ID: 15665 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 846 Hz Weight: 956 lbs Diameter: 37.38" Bell 6 of 6
Founded by Lester & Pack 1757
Dove Bell ID: 16268 Tower ID: 15665 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SP 198 645
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
The churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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