Baddesley Clinton - St Michael
Baddesley Clinton is best known for it's Tudor Manor House, the moated Baddesley Clinton Hall which is nowadays a popular visitor attraction. The small medieval church of St Michael stands nearby (like the Hall away from the modern village) though is hidden from view from the Hall itself, being situated down a long leafy path and surrounded by trees. It is a quiet spot that time seems to have forgotten, save for those few visitors that wander over from the Hall and various walkers enjoying the beauty of this tranquil place.
The church we see today is mostly late medieval and consists simply of a two cell nave and chancel with a stately west tower, a miniature version of several contemporary structures in this part of the county (Packwood is remarkably similar in design and must be the work of the same team of masons). The nave clerestorey with it's straight-headed windows also belies the late Middle Ages, though it sits upon earlier masonry of the Norman period in the north and south nave walls.
The church we see today is mostly late medieval and consists simply of a two cell nave and chancel with a stately west tower, a miniature version of several contemporary structures in this part of the county (Packwood is remarkably similar in design and must be the work of the same team of masons). The nave clerestorey with it's straight-headed windows also belies the late Middle Ages, though it sits upon earlier masonry of the Norman period in the north and south nave walls.
The interior is simple and happily retains it's historic fabric without any significant Victorian intervention. The nave roof is the original late 15th century one adorned with moulded beams and spandrels though hardly any carved bosses. The chancel arch is small and narrow and filled with an attractive filigree screen of early 17th century woodwork. Beyond the chancel is revealed, dominated by the five-light Tudor east window (unusually wider than it is tall and filling a large part of the altar wall). The window retains much of it's original mid 16th centuryTudor glass, somewhat restored but surprisingly complete.
Stained Glass
The window is split by a transom into upper and lower registers, with a central Crucifixion filling the centre light with the Crucified Christ above and John & Mary below (St John is largely a Victorian recreation). St George & St Catherine under canopies flank the figure of Christ above whilst various members of the Ferrers Family are portrayed in much of the remainder of the space, along with their respective coats of arms (the heraldic panels appear to be mostly restored).
Monuments
On the south side of the chancel is the church's most significant monument, the tomb of Sir Edward Ferrers (d.1551). The tomb is very much in the late medieval tradition, and it's arched recess and plain-topped tomb chest appear to have been designed for a recumbent effigy or brasses that presumably were never realised.
The other memorials also commemorate members of the Ferrers family consist of hatchments and simple wall tablets (the most attractive dating from as recently as 1970 and includes a cat's face peering out at the base!).
The other memorials also commemorate members of the Ferrers family consist of hatchments and simple wall tablets (the most attractive dating from as recently as 1970 and includes a cat's face peering out at the base!).
St Michael's is a small but rewarding church, and visitors to the neighbouring National Trust property should look in here also. It is normally kept open & welcoming to visitors.
For more photos see my Flickr folder at the following:-
https://www.flickr.com/photos/amthomson/sets/72157645117637132/
Aidan McRae Thomson 2014