Not really visible from the main road this little gem of a church was a real find. It was built in the twelfth century on the site of an older Saxon church. The timber porch was added in the fourteenth century with buttresses to spread the load of the bell tower. In 1718 the chancel fell down and was re-built in brick. The church was restored in 1845 and 1898 but keeping its fourteenth century appearance.
The nave contains early Victorian box pews which have long disappeared from many churches.
The nave roof is open timbered dating from the fourteenth century.
To the right of the chancel arch by the pulpit is a ‘squint’ which allowed medieval worshippers to see the priest at the altar.
The Norman chancel arch.
Above the arch are two twelfth century carved panels. One represents the Angus Dei, the Lamb of God, with a banner of victory. The other is of an animal, either a wolf or a lion.
On the north side of the chancel is the canopied tomb of Thomas Walshe 1593. It is a painted wooden tomb (one of only two in Worcestershire). The tomb was restored to its original position in 1856 when it was found that the top was not painted but a thirteenth century tomb slab of the first priest of Stockton.
The font has a modern base but the octagonal bowl is Norman.
I was intending to visit the famous baroque church at Great Witley but did not have enough time and came across this church almost by accident. It was well worth stopping to explore - a really nice little country church.
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