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St Mary & St David's Church, Kilpeck, Herefs

The Norman church par excellance, three-celled - nave, chancel, apse, so often photographed in books, was my overall destination today. I could have rushed in and gone quickly and missed so much. If you come spend some time here and the building works its magic on you. Here is some of the best C12 figure carving in the country, including a complete corbel table around the outside - some humerous, one enchanting (a soppy dog and a hare) and a couple very rude (including a sheila-na-gig). The doorway into the church is sumptuous and include stylised slim figures like those seen in Spain e.g. at Santiago. These figures appear inside on the chancel arch, but are figures of saints - including an evident St Peter with a key on the north side. For this church, the font is truly enormous and stands under the little Jacobean west gallery.

Kilpeck church interior 4

Kilpeck church interior 2

Kilpeck church interior 1

Kilpeck church S Door 1

Norman doorway, mid 12th century.

Kilpeck Church Herefordshire

kilpeck

The chapel of SS. Mary & David, Kilpeck.

One of the most extraordinary churches in Britain and the masterpiece of the Herefordshire School of romanesque carving. Completed circa 1140 AD for Hugh of Kilpeck, whose castle used to stand nearby.