St Mary's Church, Kenderchurch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Church of St Mary, Kenderchurch | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Kenderchurch, Herefordshire, England |
| Coordinates | 51°57′03″N 2°52′13″W / 51.9509°N 2.8702°W |
| Built | 12th century |
| Restored | 1870–71 |
| Restored by | William Chick |
| Governing body | Friends of Friendless Churches |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Church of St Mary, Kenderchurch |
| Designated | 26 January 1967 |
| Reference no. | 1099612 |
Listed Building – Grade II | |
| Official name | Base of Churchyard Cross 2M south-west of the Church of St Mary |
| Designated | 20 May 1987 |
| Reference no. | 1099613 |
  Location in Herefordshire | |
St Mary's is a redundant church in the hamlet of Kenderchurch to the north of the village of Pontrilas, in Herefordshire, England (grid reference SO402284). It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II listed building and is under the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.
The church is, by tradition, linked with Cynidr, a 6th century Welsh saint, and the first bishop of Glasbury in Powys.[1] There is no architectural evidence for this, but traces of a Norman structure do remain, including the font.[a] The chancel roof is medieval in date.[2][1] Little else of medieval date remains, following a whole-scale Victorian restoration by William Chick of Hereford in 1870-1871.[b][c][2][6]
The church continued in use until closure in 2013. Attempts to sell it for conversion to a private home were unsuccessful and after a decade of non-use the building came into the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches in 2023.[1] In 2025, the Friends secured funding for a £500,000 restoration, including a substantial donation from Pontrilas Saw Mill which stands adjacent to the church.[7]
Architecture and description
St Mary's is a relatively small church, and is constructed to a simple plan, with a nave, chancel, and porch, and terminating with a bellcote.[8] The building materials are sandstone rubble with stone dressings and a roof of Welsh slate.[6] The interior contains some stained glass which was probably manufactured by Clayton and Bell.[2] The church is a Grade II listed building.[6] A cross in the churchyard with a 15th century base and a 19th century cross has its own Grade II listing.[9]
Gallery
An oblique view
Interior
Church setting
Churchyard cross
