A 12th century church retaining its full integrity, setting and atmosphere within a small hamlet on the edge of the Cotswolds, and the home and burial place of renowned conservationists and authors Tom and Sonia Rolt.
Stanley Pontlarge, Gloucestershire
St Michael's has been carefully maintained over the centuries and retains its full integrity, setting and atmosphere. With historic links to nearby Sudeley Castle, and to the ancient Cistercian abbey at Hailes, it is by far the oldest of the four extant churches of the parish of Winchcombe. It is likely the church was built around 1175, a few steps from an adjacent moated manor house, to service hamlets within lands given as a dowry to Margaret (Marjery), the daughter of John de Sudeley.
By 1368, it had been passed into the purview of the abbey at Hailes by the then dominant de Tracy family - notorious for participation in the murder of Thomas à Becket in 1170. Once on the pilgrims' route between Tewkesbury and Hailes, the church remains today a place of discovery, interest and worship for visitors.
The pair of bells are thought to be among the oldest in Gloucestershire, dating from the 16th or 17th century. These were replacements for bells removed in 1540 when it was mistakenly believed the church was a Chantry Chapel and so liable for suppression. Many visitors also arrive on a modern day pilgrimage to the home and burial place of renowned conservationists and authors Tom and Sonia Rolt.
The church is always open. It is in regular use and holds services following the Book of Common Prayer usually every first and third Sunday of the month.
Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
St Peter's is a beautiful Grade I listed church which dates back to the 15th century and it contains many ancient artifacts which are on display including a particularly fine piece of stained glass in its east window.
Winchcombe, Gloucestershire
13th century Cistercian abbey.
Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire
Built on a Saxon foundation that may date back to the 700s, the present church takes character from the 1170s, when it was rebuilt by the Normans and transformed into a large and splendid building.
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