Areley Kings, Worcestershire

St Bartholomew’s Church

Areley Kings is just over the River Severn from Stourport. The church, which is thought to date from the twelfth century, is sited on the top of a small hill with wonderful views across the surrounding countryside. The tower is fourteenth century.



The oldest part of the church is probably the chancel (according to the guide book). The present style of the interior is Georgian with a barrel vaulted ceiling and a clear glass east window from 1796 which is quite unusual.



This window in the south wall of the chancel is known as the Layamon Window. The style and thickness suggests the window is from a quite early Norman period. The glass and adjacent plaque commemorates Layamon, a priest at Areley in the late C12 or early C13. He is known to have written a book ‘The Brut’, which was an epic chronicle of English history, written in English rather than the French of the Normans. This is one of the few examples of writings in early English.



The font was made in the Norman style during extensive reconstruction work in 1885.




The nave was extended and the north aisle and vestry were added in 1885-6. The window at the west end of the north aisle is called the Grice Window. It depicts the Ascension which glows when the sun shines from the west.



To the north east of the church is a small build known as the Outstout and thought o have been erected in 1728 possibly as a refuge from the adjacent Church House. It was used as an external study and is now the Parish Office.




The Church House is a black and white building near the church gate. It was built in 1536 as a village hall where ‘Church Ales’ and fund raising parties were held until banned by the Puritans in the 1650’s. This is only one of two surviving church houses in Worcestershire.



A view of the church from the north east looking south west.



This is a church I have known of for many years and driven within half a mile of on countless occasions without visiting. I am glad I have now been - its setting is wonderful especially with the black and white Church House adjacent.