St Olaf's church, Poughill :: Shared Description
Grade I listed.
Poughill is mentioned in the Domesday book. The church is of exceptional interest and dates from the 14th century. It seats 300 persons and is dedicated to the Norwegian King and so-called Martyr, St Olaf (Olaf II of Norway). At the restoration in 1928 the foundations of the original Norman church were uncovered but nothing of this remains above ground.
The west tower is late 14th early 15th C. of granite with crocketed pinnacles. The pillars on the north side and south arch of the nave are of Caen stone (14th century). Those of the south side are granite (15th century).
The piscina and aumbry in the south chancel are 13th century. The font is from about 1400.
Inside the church is a wall of frescoes dating from about 1470, and depict St Christopher: they were discovered in 1894 beneath the whitewash. Such paintings were once common in churches. The Poughill accounts record the washing-out of the figures in 1550 at the time of the Reformation. According to the legend, St Christopher was a heathen giant who, on turning Christian, was instructed by a holy hermit to carry travellers over a dangerous ford, and who, one stormy night carried the child Jesus on his shoulder. The paintings were somewhat crudely restored.
The roof is a 15th Century Waggon roof with carved bosses. The benches have carved ends from the late 15th C.
The porch is in Perpendicular style with a massive 15th C oak door.
Poughill is mentioned in the Domesday book. The church is of exceptional interest and dates from the 14th century. It seats 300 persons and is dedicated to the Norwegian King and so-called Martyr, St Olaf (Olaf II of Norway). At the restoration in 1928 the foundations of the original Norman church were uncovered but nothing of this remains above ground.
The west tower is late 14th early 15th C. of granite with crocketed pinnacles. The pillars on the north side and south arch of the nave are of Caen stone (14th century). Those of the south side are granite (15th century).
The piscina and aumbry in the south chancel are 13th century. The font is from about 1400.
Inside the church is a wall of frescoes dating from about 1470, and depict St Christopher: they were discovered in 1894 beneath the whitewash. Such paintings were once common in churches. The Poughill accounts record the washing-out of the figures in 1550 at the time of the Reformation. According to the legend, St Christopher was a heathen giant who, on turning Christian, was instructed by a holy hermit to carry travellers over a dangerous ford, and who, one stormy night carried the child Jesus on his shoulder. The paintings were somewhat crudely restored.
The roof is a 15th Century Waggon roof with carved bosses. The benches have carved ends from the late 15th C.
The porch is in Perpendicular style with a massive 15th C oak door.
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Created: Mon, 9 Apr 2012, Updated: Mon, 9 Apr 2012
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