OS grid reference ST 818 882 Denomination Anglican Phone +44 117 929 1766 | Country England Dedication Arilda of Oldbury Designated as world heritage site 6 September 1964 | |
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Website Churches Conservation Trust Architectural style English Gothic architecture | ||
St Arild's Church is a redundant Anglican church near the village of Oldbury-on-the-Hill, Gloucestershire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The church is dedicated to Arilda, a female saint who was a virgin and a martyr. This is one of only two churches dedicated to her, the other being nearby at Oldbury-on-Severn. Access to the church is across fields or through a farmyard.
Contents
History
The church originated in the 13th century, although most of its fabric dates from the late 15th or early 16th century. Repairs were carried out in the 18th century.
Architecture
St Arild's is constructed in stone with a stone slate roof. Its style is Perpendicular. The plan consists of a nave and chancel, with a small north porch, and a west tower. The tower is in three stages divided by string courses, with diagonal stepped buttresses in the lowest stage. Also in the lowest stage is a two-light arched west window. The middle stage has a small lancet window on the west side, and on all sides in the highest stage are two-light louvred bell openings. At the top of the tower is a battlemented parapet. The north porch is gabled, and in the north wall is a three-light ogee-headed window. On the south side of the nave are four windows of different types. The east window in the chancel has a three-light window containing Decorated (geometrical) tracery.
Internally there is a tall pointed tower arch. The ceiling is plain and plastered. Some 18th-century box pews are still present on the south side of the church, and there is also a two-tier pulpit.