St. Bartholomew, Notgrove, Gloucestershire

Description

The church of St. Bartholomew is an ancient building principally in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of three bays, north transept, south porch and a western tower with small spire containing 3 bells: the chancel retains a piscina and aumbry, and on the east wall are ancient paintings of the Crucifixion, St. Mary Magdalene anointing our Saviour's feet, and five other subjects; above, under richly gilt canopies, are represented the Annunciation, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Coronation of the Virgin, and over these are figures of six saints and an embattled cresting, now much decayed: both sides of the chancel were also once decorated, and the arches of the nave arcades bear traces of colour: within the communion rails, under an arch on the north side of the chancel, is a handsome tomb, with the date 1630, surmounted by the effigy of a lady, conjectured to represent a member of the Whittington family: on the south side of the chancel lies the marble effigy of a man in legal robes and a ruff, supposed to represent William Whittington; raised above and on a slab, supported by short marble pillars, is the recumbent figure of a knight in armour of the Elizabethan period, assigned to John Whittington, of Pauntley, esq. father of the preceding; the armorial bearings show that both these effigies are to members of the Whittington family: in the chancel is also a stone sarcophagus, and a tomb with the effigy of a priest vested, believed to represent Parker, the last abbot of Gloucester: the two windows of the chancel and one in the nave are stained: the original Norman font, still used, is in good preservation: the nave arcade is also Norman: in 1872 the chancel was restored at a cost of £400, and the body of the church in 1873 at a cost of £900, under the direction of Mr. J. E. K. Cutts, architect, of London: there are 100 sittings.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1660.