St Cuthbert's Church, Holme Lacy, Herefordshire

Address:
Church Road, Hereford, Herefordshire, HR2 6LX
How to find us | Access information
Opening times:
Open daily NOTE: St Cuthbert's will be closed on 23 September for a private event
  • The present church dates from the late 13th century, with the westtower added in the 14th century. © Diana Neale LRPS
  • The east window by Henry Payne depicts the Archangel Michael weighing souls, beside a marble monument to James Scudamore (d.1668). © Diana Neale LRPS
  • In the south chapel, John Scudamore (d.1571) lies seemingly frozen in time beside his wife Sibell on a tomb chest, decked out in a full suit of armour. © Tom Jones
  • Two hatchments in the south aisle feature the motto Sola virtus invicta, for Charles, 11th Duke of Norfolk (d.1815) and his wife Frances (d.1820). © Diana Neale LRPS
  • The gilded lectern, carved in the shape of an eagle, commemorates Selwyn Lucas-Tooth, killed at Le Touquet, France, in 1914. © Diana Neale LRPS
  • The elegant 17th-century font is richly decorated with cherubs’ heads.
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Angels, a demon and knights in shining armour

In a pretty setting on a bend in the River Wye, looking across to the Herefordshire hills, this delightful church is well worth a visit just to enjoy its rich collection of monuments.

The Scudamore family were patrons of the church from Medieval times until the twentieth century, and their monuments are a spectacular treasure. The church also has monuments to the Lucas-Tooth family who bought the estate in 1909. John Scudamore, who died in 1571 lies beside his wife on a tomb chest, decked out in full armour. James Scudamore, who died in 1668, wears Roman costume in a great wedding cake of a wall monument - possibly by Grinling Gibbons. There is also a Victorian monument to a naval captain which shows a fleet of fully rigged ships. There are even some twentieth-century monuments - in the churchyard is a memorial to Edwyn Scudamore Stanhope, who died in 1933, pictured as a heroic knight in armour.

Beautiful stained glass also delights the eye. Most of it is nineteenth and twentieth century, though the chancel north window is made up of fragments of medieval glass.

In the nave is a striking window showing two of King Arthur's knights, given in memory of Archibald Lucas-Tooth, who died in World War I. His father, Sir Robert, is commemorated in the wonderful glass in the great east window, showing St Michael weighing souls.

Other treasures to look for include the unusual seventeenth-century font, with its elegant stem and richly decorated bowl, and the carvings on the medieval stalls, showing angels, men, a horned demon and a dog.

Please make a contribution towards the upkeep of this church via our at our red donate button. A donation can also by made by texting "HLL" to 70970 to donate £5 or 70191 to donate £10. 

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