St Catherine's Church, Hoarwithy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Catherine's Church, Hoarwithy |
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| Church of St Catherine, Hoarwithy | |
Church of St Catherine, Hoarwithy
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| Location | Hoarwithy, Herefordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 26 March 1987 |
| Architect(s) | John Pollard Seddon |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | c.1870 |
| Completed | 1901 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Hentland |
| Diocese | Diocese of Hereford |
The Church of St Catherine is a beautiful old church in Hoarwithy, a village in Herefordshire, England. It is a Church of England parish church. Experts like Alan Brooks and Nikolaus Pevsner call it the "most impressive Victorian church" in the area.
The church was designed by the architect John Pollard Seddon. He created it in an Italian Romanesque style. This special church is so important that it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
Building History
The first chapel on this spot was built around the 1840s. It was a simple brick building. The local vicar, Reverend William Poole, thought it was "ugly."
In 1870, Reverend Poole received an inheritance. He decided to use the money to rebuild the church completely. He hired John Pollard Seddon for the job.
The main building work happened between 1878 and 1879. However, some parts, especially the inside decorations, were added after 1885. Work has continued even into the 2000s. A special artwork called the "Dubricius" polyptych was added by artist Edward Kelly. The church organ has also been restored.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St Catherine has a very tall and impressive bell tower, called a "campanile". It has four levels. The ground floor of the tower has an open arcade, which is a series of arches.
The church is built using local Red sandstone. This stone covers the older brick structure from 1840. A porch on the north side connects to the arches of the bell tower.
The church's design is a mix of many styles. It includes influences from Byzantine, French, Venetian, and Sicilian Romanesque designs. Simon Jenkins, another expert, called the church "an astonishing creation." He said it is a complete work of art from its time.
The churchyard also has five war graves. These are for three British Army soldiers and a Royal Navy seaman from World War I. There is also a Royal Naval Reserve officer from World War II buried there.
Churches in the Area
St Catherine's Church is part of a group of churches. This group is called a "joint benefice" and includes six other churches:
- St Michael’s Church, Garway
- St Dubricius' Church, Hentland
- St Weonard's Church, St Weonard
- St John the Baptist’s Church, Orcop
- St Denys Church, Pencoyd
- St Mary’s Church, Tretire
Gallery
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Loggia or cloister
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Floor mosaic detail
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East end of the church
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Stained glass
