St Bartholemew's Church, Lower Sapey, Worcestershire
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A Norman time capsule in a beautiful setting
A winding lane leads up to the humble but delightful church of St Bartholomew, which sits on a steep bank above a picturesque stream. Its only companions are a scattering of stone and timber-framed eleventh-century houses.
The charm and interest of St Bartholomew's lie in the fact that little has changed since it was built in Norman times. It is very simple in form. The wonderful oak porch is weathered to a beautiful silver-grey and is covered by a great tangle of honeysuckle in summer. This leads to a splendid door set within a fine Norman doorway.
Inside, the church has a pleasing simplicity - a floor made of clay and gravel, a little west gallery and plain plastered walls that bear traces of wallpaintings from many centuries - you can just make out part of a lion, from a seventeenth-century royal coat of arms. Other fragments date from the Middle Ages.
Most of the fittings were transferred when a new and more convenient parish church was built in Victorian times. St Bartholomew's was neglected for more than a century after this, and was even used as a farm building! Only in the last 20 years, thanks to efforts of local people, has it been rescued from oblivion.
If you visit in the summer, when the countryside is at its most lush and a mass of honeysuckle hangs over the porch, it is a truly unforgettable experience.
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A Victorian masterpiece returned to the community
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Access information
Limited on road parking. Only access to entrance is up 17 steps. Then via a grass churchyard to south porch with 3 steps down to the nave.
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Facilities & Hire
Due to the historic nature of our buildings, only a very small number have heating, running water or toilet facilities. The lighting is usually operated via a 'push button' timer or a motion sensor.
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Directions
16 miles north west of Worcester off B4204 in Clifton-upon-Teme, sigposted from Hope Lane; access off Hollybush Lane, which joins B4204 and B4203, and via Hope Lane for a couple of miles
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Transport
Nearest railway station: Worcester (10 miles)
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History & Further Information
Why not make your visit more enjoyable and informed by finding out more about this church before you visit? You can download a range of publications below including the relevant county guide, and any walk round guides we have for this church.
Herefordshire & Worcestershire County Guide
This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches we care for in Herefordshire & Worcestershire.
St. Bartholemew's, Lower Sapey guidebook
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Community information
St Bartholemew's Church, Lower Sapey is in our west region.
Useful local links:
- Visit Worcestershire
- North East Worcestershire
- Family Days out in Worcestershire
- Worcestershire Archaeological Society
- Worcestershire Industrial Archaeology & Local History Society
- The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry
- A list of churches in Worcestershire
- Worcestershire is in the Diocese of Worcester
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