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St Mary

Almondsbury

Gloucestershire

Late C12, C13 tower, rebuilt 1834, later C19 alterations.

Architectural Features

2-storey porch has raised coped verges with kneelers, gable stack with statuette in niche, entrance doorway of 3 plain orders, jamb shafts with scalloped capitals, upper chamber carried on quadripartite rib vault springing from C14 corbel heads, round arched light to front, slit windows to sides, stair turret to left.

Transepts have shallow gable ends with 3-light window in stone surround with hood mould and mask stops and similar windows to both east sides, parapet and coping, weathered buttresses, south gable has sundial and wrought iron cross finial dated 1816, octagonal ashlar stair turret to east of south transept, with corbels, cornice, parapet, slit windows, and door in chamfered surround with Tudor arched head, north transept has rainwater head dated 1814.

2-storey vestry has ground floor C19 3-light window with hood mould and splayed cill, and 4-light mullion and transom window with segmental head and drip mould, 2-light window with drip mould (possibly re-set) at first floor, single storey, flat-roofed wing linking vestry to porch with Tudor-arched door and 2-light casement, both in moulded surrounds, cornice, parapet and coping.

Fittings: Norman square bowl font with scalloped edge on cylindrical pedestal and rectangular plinth.

Carved oak reredos by C.E. Ponting, 1891.

Brass chandelier in chancel, 1905.

2 hatchments in crossing recording gifts to the parish, dated 1717 and 1683.

Royal arms above screen across west arch.

C19 carved wooden pews and pulpit.

East windows have stained glass by O'Connor, 1849.

Monument to Edward Veele and family, in the south transept, 1577 with recumbent stone effigies resting on tomb chest with portraits of their children in Renaissance setting of fluted Ionic pilasters, canopy carried by fluted Corinthian columns, surmounted by heraldry, skull and cross finial.

Monument to Thomas Chester, 1763, and other members of the family with mourning female and gadrooned sarcophagus.

Monument to Hugh Ivy, 1630, pointed stone with rosettes and shield.

Photo coming soon