St Edward's Church, Kempley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Edward the Confessor |
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| 51°57′50″N 2°28′47″W / 51.9640°N 2.4798°W | |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Kempley |
| Deanery | North Cotswold |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Cheltenham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Gloucester |
The Church of St Edward the Confessor is a special church in Kempley, a village in the Forest of Dean area of Gloucestershire, England. It belongs to the Church of England and is located very close to the border with Herefordshire. This church is an important local landmark.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
Building a New Church for the Community
This church was built between 1903 and 1904. It was designed by an architect named Randall Wells. The building is so important that it has a special status called Grade II* listed. This means it's a very important historical building. A famous writer, John Betjeman, even called it a "mini-cathedral" because of its beautiful design.
The church is named after Edward the Confessor, a king of England. It was built as a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church built to help people who lived far from the main church. The main church, St Mary's Church, Kempley, was too far away for many people in the village. It also often flooded. So, William Lygon, 7th Earl Beauchamp, who owned a lot of land, decided to build St Edward's. In 1975, St Edward's became the main parish church for Kempley.
How the Church Was Designed
Randall Wells learned a lot from another architect, William Lethaby. Wells worked with Lethaby on another church project. Lethaby liked to try new ways of building. Instead of using a big construction company, he used local workers directly. He also didn't make many detailed drawings. This gave Wells a lot of freedom to change the design as the church was being built. He could even help with the physical work himself.
Some of the church's foundations were already in place when Wells started his design. He had to make the church fit these existing foundations. Lord Beauchamp, who commissioned the church, had some specific requests. He didn't want a window on the east side. He wanted most of the light to come from the west side. He also wanted the roof to be kept low.
Kempley is a small village but has two important Anglican churches. The other, older church, St Mary's, is even more important and is a Grade I listed building.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church: Local Materials
The Church of St Edward the Confessor was built using materials found nearby. Local workers also helped to build it. The red stone used came from quarries in the Forest of Dean, about seven miles away. The wood for the roof was fresh oak cut from Lord Beauchamp's own land.
The church roof was originally covered with local stone slates. You can still see these slates on the lych gate, which is a covered gateway to the churchyard. However, the church roof itself now has different tiles called pantiles.
Inside the Church: Art and Craftsmanship
Inside the church, you can see three beautiful stone carvings. These were designed by Randall Wells himself.
- Above the main entrance, there is a carving of Christ. Wells worked with a local carpenter named Walter James on this piece.
- Inside the porch, you'll find a carving of the Virgin and Child by Laurence Turner.
- On the east wall, there is a carving of the Crucifixion, also made by Walter James.
The rood is a large cross or crucifix that stands above the entrance to the chancel. The one in this church was carved by David Gibb. He was from Glasgow and was known as the last person in London who carved ship's figureheads. Randall Wells and his brother Linley painted the rood.
The church's seating, the prayer desk, the rails, and the altar were all designed by the architect. They were made from English oak by Peter Waals at the Daneway Workshop. This workshop was part of a famous partnership between Ernest Gimson and Ernest Barnsley, who were important figures in the Arts and Crafts movement. The lectern, where readings are given, was designed by Barnsley. The candelabras (candle holders) and some iron candlesticks were made by Alfred Bucknell. Other ironwork was done by George Smallman, the village blacksmith in Kempley.
In 2011, the church council started a fundraising effort to collect £110,000. This money was needed to help pay for important repairs to the church.
Images for kids
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West window
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Crucifixion relief on the east wall
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The rood
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St Edward's from the southeast
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Through the lychgate
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The Christ above the entrance
