St Mary's Church, Shipton Sollars
Gloucestershire
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About this Church
A past cowshed
This small thirteenth-century church in a pretty Cotswold hamlet has had various periods of dereliction and restoration in its long history and even survived a time as a cowshed in the 19th century.
It is built of local limestone, and was once the centre of a village that is now mostly deserted.
The church is entered through a medieval oak door. Inside there are fragments of wall texts, a Jacobean pulpit with hour-glass, a fifteenth-century font and pretty twentieth-century stained glass provided by Ernest and Evelyn Fieldhouse, who were responsible for a major restoration of the church in the 1930s.
Access information
Approach to the church is from the single track lane, up 3 steep steps and then up a sloping path with a handrail. At the main entrance, there is one step down into the church.
Facilities & Hire
St Mary's Church is available to hire for events and is a unique and beautiful venue.
It is also available for wedding blessings and funeral services.
St Mary's Church has electricity and heating, and can seat up to 50 people. Parking adjacent to the church can be arranged with a local landowner. Due to its historic nature, the church has no running water or toilet facilities so thought needs to be given for events longer than a couple of hours.
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.
Bristol and Gloucestershire County Guide
This free of charge short guide contains details of all the churches we care for in Gloucestershire & Bristol. Printed copies of the county guide are also available at the church.
Directions
200 metres north east of A40/A436 junction on south side of village road to Shipton.
Transport
Nearest railway station: Cheltenham Spa (6.7 miles)
Community Information
Click on the link below to download a copy of the church plan which sets out the shared vision for the future of the church.
Church plans are a living document which combines information on the church’s history and its current use, outlines maintenance and repair needs, combines this with feedback and recommendations from the community, and concludes with an action plan setting out agreed short, medium and long term goals to support the sustainable use and care of the church.
This is a working document that will be updated on a regular basis. If you have any feedback or if you want to contact us about the church plan please drop us a line. When you write, please do give the name of the church, thank you!
Shipton Sollars Church Plan 2023
Useful local links:
