Diameter: 16.25" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by John Rudhall 1810
Dove Bell ID: 62542 Tower ID: 24917 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Wolferlow: St Andrew
Diocese of Hereford
Closed Church, 618068
This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: SO 668 617
St Andrew’s is on first impressions rather quaint and charming. The nave and chancel each have distinct, fairly steep, pitched roofs with decorative banding of grey and red tiles. The chancel roof is slightly lower and both are surmounted with cross finials at the east end. The bell turret has a splay-foot shingled spire and a delicate cross finial. The nave of the church dates from the 12th century and although much restored in the 19th century the Norman fabric has survived in the north wall, blocked doorway, porch and chancel arch.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave and chancel, south porch and north vestry.
Dimensions:
Nave and chancel approximately 22m x 5m (72ft x 16ft)
Footprint of Church buildings: 163 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The nave of the church dates from the 12th century and although much restored in the 19th century the Norman fabric has survived in the north wall, blocked doorway, porch and chancel arch. The west end of the church has an unusual exposed timber structure which seems to comprise an extension of the original nave. The timbers appear medieval but their installation is quite haphazard and it would seem likely that this is a post medieval intervention, perhaps 17th century, reusing earlier timber – possibly from the deserted village. The date of the original bell turret is not clear although the earliest bell is dated 1611 and this would tie in with the suggested date of the timber structure in the nave.
A Cardiff based architect, Frederick R Kempson (1838-1923), undertook most of the restoration work in 1863 although further work was also carried out in 1890-1894. The restoration work included rebuilding the chancel, south porch & bell turret and adding the north vestry.
Exterior Description
The nave and chancel each have distinct, fairly steep, pitched roofs with decorative banding of grey and red tiles. The chancel roof is slightly lower and both are surmounted with cross finials at the east end. The bell turret has a splay-foot shingled spire and a delicate cross finial. The base of the turret is heavily restored with timber framework.
The west end of the church has a very slight hipped roof dropping down from the base of the turret.
The fenestration in the nave continues with single thin lancets. Both the north and south elevations have three windows with one positioned to the west of doorways. The north doorway is blocked and the best example of surviving Norman fabric. It has a round arch with one moulded order and a decorative band of saltire crossed stone. The capitals appear to have been altered or damaged.
The south door within a porch has some evidence of Norman work but this has been reset within the 19th-century restoration and appears most noticeably as a tympanum above a three-centred arch with intruding capitals. Other stonework in the doorway has been reused and reset. The porch is narrow and has a long, steeply pitched roof which leaves very short walls with quatrefoil openings in squared settings.
The north wall, notably not the ‘show’ side of the building retains its original facing and has none of the restored banded brick seen on the south. The vestry was built at the junction of the nave and incorporates three-quarters of the chancel length. It has a pitched roof extending to the north and a small stub of a chimney where it meets the chancel. There is an external entrance from the west with a shouldered arch and in the east wall a pair of short windows with bottleneck tops.
The chancel has a three-light stepped window to the east and two single lancets in the north face, the westernmost shorter and set lower in the wall.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The only stained glass is in the east window and the three lights depict (l-r) St Peter, the Good Shepherd and St Andrew possibly by Ward & Hughes. The window is dedicated to a former vicar - JHC Wright 1871
Interior
Interior Description
The chancel arch is semi-circular and Norman in origin although heavily restored by the Victorians. The decoration of that time survives relatively well and on either side of the arch are fixed metal plate with scrolls around crosses reading ‘I know that my redeemer liveth’ and ‘I am the way the truth and the life’. ‘That they all may be one’ is painted text on fabric and encircles the chancel arch.
The windows internally, and the effigy recess, have deep reveals with triangular heads. The east window has the only stained glass. The cracking plaster work above the east window suggests an earlier taller opening but there is no evidence in the fabric to confirm this.
There are a number of 18th-century monuments, predominantly on the north wall. Two are in slate with painted arms. At the west end of the nave there is exposed timber work supporting the bell turret. The timbers consist of angle-posts with heavy diagonal struts.
The floor in the church is predominantly black and red quarry tiles with the pews on raised timber platforms. The main walkway is carpeted and the altar dais has red and black encaustic tiles. The nave is pewed throughout and the subsidence of the pews is clearly visible.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1890s
Open oak table with carved detail on the front and sides
Reredos
The east wall has a stone reredos with some marble detailing. On either side an arcade of three shallow recessed cusped arches with miniature marble pillars and foliate capitals. The outer arches on either side have lilies in vesica in relief. The central arches blank, usually occupied by marble crosses (lying on chancel floor). An almost illegible plaque on the north wall records that the reredos & east window were given by friends and parishioners of the Revd J H C Wright who had been rector for 17 years. Died 16th May 1871 aged 49 years.
Pulpit
1890s
Oak pulpit positioned tightly in the corner of the nave. Three panels visible with cusped blind arches; decorated with foliate and acorn carvings.
Lectern
1890s
A wooden triangular prism shaped, double sided book rest.
Font (object)
1890s
A bowl and stem font in the shape of a large quatrefoil.
Effigy
Late 13th or Early 14th Century
Set within a recess in the wall there is a stone effigy of a woman in a long flowing gown, her head supported by angels and feet resting on a dog. Possibly late 13th-century or even early 14th-century.
Organ (object)
Electric pipe organ. Small console in chancel. Pipework covered on floor in nave.
Rail
1890s
Simple thick wooden rail.
Bells
Diameter: 29.25" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by Abraham II Rudhall 1721
Dove Bell ID: 62543 Tower ID: 24917 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Diameter: 29.5" Bell 3 of 3
1611
Dove Bell ID: 62544 Tower ID: 24917 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SO 668 617
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.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
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
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