Description

ST 77 NE DODINGTON C.P. DODINGTON PARK

6/60 Church of St. Mary

G.V. I

Parish church. Complete rebuilding of mediaeval church 1796-1816, linked in
group with Dodington House and the Orangery (q.v.) by James Wyatt. Limestone
ashlar, copper domed roof, rendered rubble at basement level, rear rendered and
lined out. Greek cross plan, portico, entrance, nave, north and south transepts,
chancel. Greek Doric style. 3-bay west front, centre bay broken forward,
plinth, unfluted Greek Doric portico, pediment, tall double doors in moulded
architrave, band course above, large Diocletian window, modillion cornice and
balustrade with corner dies and 2 central dies; to each side of centre bay,
single storey block containing stairs to galleries, each with round-headed recess
containing inner round headed recess with cill, upper moulded string course
(continued around Orangery to right) cornice and blocking course; to right, wall
curves to meet Orangery (q.v.). Set back from central front bay, nave, north and south
transepts continue modillion cornice, nave has high parapet, cornice and blocking
course, domed roof with lantern, north and south transepts have small parapet and
balustrade as at front. North elevation has central bay of north transept broken
forward slightly; at basement level, central and left bays visible, to right
concealed by churchyard, central bay has blocked round-headed opening, 16-pane
sash with keystone to left; central bay has round-headed blind recess with band
course set within, band course across bay, similar Diocletian window modillion
cornice and balustrade; outer bays have tall round-headed recess rising from
plinth, containing 9-pane round-headed sash with splayed upper glazing bars,
moulded string course, cornice and blocking course. East elevation has chancel
as central bay, upper band course, Diocletian window, modillion cornice, parapet
and balustrade; at basement level, projecting flat-roofed block with coping,
round-headed opening to left with C20 door and glazing bars in upper section,
slightly higher block to right has round-headed opening to right, double doors
with glazed upper section, cornice; bay to right at ground floor level has
panelled door and sash above to right, cornice and blocking course; to left of
centre bay an addition with pitched roof, C20 windows and door to south; set back,
a block with 8-pane sash, in front of south transept; south transept has modillion
cornice to south and balustrade to south and east, attached to Orangery at ground
floor level. Interior: entrance doors have floating cornice supported by
scrolled and acanthus console brackets, moulded architrave, similar panelled doors
to right and left in moulded architrave, each leading to stair to north and south
galleries in transepts; winder stair to north (gallery missing) and dog-leg stair
to south with cast iron railing balustrade, wreathed, semi-circular recess to each
side of stair entry, segmental headed openings to galleries. South gallery has
semi-circular recess to rear with cast iron fireplace, cast iron screen across
front in 5 panels of intersecting numbers with rosette bosses, to east a corridor
leads to private entry for Dodington House through Orangery; each transept has
coved plaster ceiling with cornice and beaded panels with bronze rosettes,
marbled panelled front to south gallery floor with Greek key patterned frieze
(mostly missing), south transept has 6-panelled east door leading to Orangery.
Square nave has high arch to entrance, chancel and transepts rising from pilaster
with recessed panel to inner side and cornice, soffits of arches coffered with
bronze rosettes; at each corner of nave a fluted Greek Doric column with
architrave as a springer for 4 inner arches, also coffered with bronze rosettes,
(cornice missing at top of plinths), pendentives between arches in moulded surrounds
with marbled centre, cornice, coffered dome above with rosettes at lower level,
Vitruvian scroll cornice, upper part divided into sections by beaded fillets,
vertical section above with patterned painting and lantern. Chancel has ceiling
as in transepts. Fittings: contemporary reredos in wood with round-headed arch,
scrolled and acanthus keystone and putti in spandrels, late C19 central panel
carved with symbols of the Passion. Altar on marble wood with recessed panel on
plinth of yellow Siena marble. Later C19 bowl font on 4 slender Corinthian
columns on octagonal marble plinth in centre of nave. 5 Art Nouveau gasoliers,
of bronze and lapis lazuli, detached from original position. Coat of arms on
hatchment in south transept gallery. Marble floor in nave and chancel. Early
C19 marble tablet with fluted columns, pediment and coat of arms, to Codrington
family, on north wall at entrance. Window over south gallery has early C20 glass
brought from Ypres Cathedral. In poor condition at time of survey after attack
of dry rot c.1950, in process of restoration (September 1984). (Sources:
Verey, D. : Buildings of England Gloucestershire : The Cotswolds. 1970.
Country Life LV, 170-75, CXX 1176-9 and 1230-3).

Listing NGR: ST7521279883

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17530306

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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