Building record 4341/1/1 - Church of St. Denys

Church of 14th-century origin with 19th-century work by JK Colling; constructed of regular coursed lias and limestone with lead and stone slate roofs. The church consists of a nave, chancel, north aisle and west tower. Also known as Church of Dionysius.

{1} Church. C14, with C19 work, by J.K. Colling. Regular coursed lias and limestone with lead and stone slated roof. Nave, chancel, north aisle and west tower. Nave and chancel: south elevation of 6-window range, 4 to left of 2 lights with pointed heads and 2 to right of 2 lights with square heads, all restored C19. Pitched roof with coursed corbels. North elevation of chancel of one bay projection beyond north aisle. C19 three-light east window. North aisle, 4-window range of 3-light Perpendicular windows with 4-centred heads; that to left has transom with cusps. East window of north aisle of 3-lights with Carolean tracery of lozenges and circles. Lean-to roof with ashlar parapet, that to far left has Jacobean decoration with obelisk at the corner, reputed to be of 1638. Gabled porch between windows one and 2 from right. West tower, Perpendicular of 4 stages with clasping buttresses and 2-light bell chamber openings to each face of fourth stage. Ashlar broach spire with 2 stages of lucarnes. Iron railings attached to east of the chancel Interior: Chancel, c.1874 by J.K. Colling in High Victorian style with blind arcading to walls having panels of marble allegedly taken from buildings of ancient Rome. Marble floor, mosaic wall decoration by Powells, designed by Wooldridge. Nave has C19 four bay arcade of pointed arches with circular pink marble piers. C19 roofs, that in nave has large angel corbels. Stained glass: East window by Lavers, Barraud and Westlake, 2 windows at south west end of nave by William Pepper, bellfry window also has stained glass. (Frontal and alter ring by Morris and Co.). Screen in west tower arch mid C20 incorporating late C16 and early C17 panels of Netherlandish and German origin depicting the storey of Esther. Monuments: Brass to Mary Osborne died 1534, headless. In north chapel, now vestry, Sir John Hanbury died 1639; two kneeling figures facing across a prayer desk, drapery above with open pediment over. To left William Hanbury died 1768, large inscribed marble panel with strigillated sarcophagus above. To left William Hanbury died 1807 by chantry, Grecian altar with drapery and 2 interlocked wreaths. Font: High Victorian style. Also known as Church of St. Dionysius. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.270).

{8} The lavish high Victorian interior of St Dionysius (also known as St Denys) results from work undertaken by the work undertaken by J K Colling in 1874. Its chancel wall decoration includes a Powell's opus sectile panel designed by H E Wooldridge and depicting the four Evangelists with St Denys; it cost just over £77, about £20 more than the east wall opus sectile of St Peter and St Paul, also by Wooldridge.

{10} No record of a church exists until much later than 1086 and there is nothing in the present structure from before the 13th century. Moreover, its position on the southern edge of the village might suggest that it was a later addition to the landscape. Kelmarsh was a chapelry, dependent on maidwell, so its inhabitants would have used Maidwell church. Kelmarsh church would therefore have been a chapel with only very restricted rights.

{12} Brass rubbing of Maurice Osborne and his two wives (1534).

{13} Undated photo;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 6/60 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G02 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> 1977, A History of Kettering Parish Church, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN55760.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.270-72 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.41-2+242-6 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<6> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.221-24 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<7> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<8> Pearson L., 2003, Gazeteer of British Tile and Architectural Ceramic Sites: County Draft, Northamptonshire, p.2 (unchecked) (Gazetteer). SNN103233.

<9> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<10> Taylor C.C., 2000, Kelmarsh Estate Report, p.8 (unchecked) (Report). SNN101314.

<11> Ivens, R.J., 2007, Archaeological Recording Action at The Church of St Denys, Kelmarsh, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN105922.

<12> Brass Rubbings at Ashmolean Museum, (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41806.

<13> Photographs of buildings in Kelmarsh (Photographs). SNN112703.

<14> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, M.H.L.G. 1950 1958/11/A 29 (Report). SNN112993.

<14> ENGLISH HERITAGE, 2009, A Landscape Detective's Look at Kelmarsh Hall (Leaflet). SNN106892.

<15> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, District of Daventry, 19/07/1985 (Report). SNN112993.

<15> Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society, 2011, TACS (Tiles and Architectural Ceramics Society) Location Database (Gazetteer). SNN107648.

<16> Historic England, St Denys' Church, Kelmarsh, BF107349 (Archive). SNN115275.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 2:29PM