Church of the Holy Cross, Avening

The Anglican Church of the Holy Cross at Avening in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England was built in late 11th century. It is a grade I listed building.[1]

Church of the Holy Cross
Church of the Holy Cross
DenominationChurch of England
Websitewww.aveningchurch.info
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I listed building
Designated6 September 1954
Administration
ParishAvening
DioceseGloucester
ProvinceCanterbury

History

Outside the church is a stone coffin from before the Norman Conquest.[2]

Parts of the church date from the late 11th century.[1] It was commissioned by Queen Matilda of Flanders, wife of William the Conqueror.[3]

The tower, west bay of the chancel, north aisle, and north doorway were added in the 12th century.[4] The transepts were added in the late 13th.[1] The top storey of the tower was added in the 14th century.[5]

From the 11th to 14th century the church was the property of the Abbey of Sainte-Trinité, Caen,[2] although this was disputed by Tewkesbury Abbey.[4]

The building was restored in 1902,[1] after part of the tower had collapsed causing damage to part of the nave and north aisle.[4]

The parish is part of the benefice of Avening with Cherington within the Diocese of Gloucester.[6]

Architecture

The Cotswold stone building is cruciform in layout. It has a two-bay north aisle with a porch. The nave has a 14th-century wagon roof. There are parts of the Norman architecture still intact including the doorway, arcade and chancel arch. The three-stage tower is supported by buttresses.[1]

The interior includes a table from 1657. There are several monuments and tablets along with a kneeling effigy of Henry Brydges of Avening Court. The stained glass of the East Window is by Clayton and Bell and two in the nave by Christopher Whall.[1]

The war memorial tablet commemorates villagers who died in the First World War, Second World War and the Iraq War.[7]

References
  1. "Church of the Holy Cross". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  2. "Historical Information". The Church of Holy Cross, Avening. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  3. "Parish Profiles" (PDF). Avening & Cherington. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  4. "Avening: Church A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 11, Bisley and Longtree Hundreds". British History Online. Victoria County History. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  5. "Historical Notes and Guide to Avening Church Gloucestershire" (PDF). Avening Church. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  6. "Holy Cross". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  7. "War Memorial Holy Cross Church". Traces of War. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
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