Old St Mary's Church Site, Woodchester

Image: © Caroline Evans Taken: 18 Apr 2011

The ancient parish church of St. Mary stood at the northern extremity of the parish and comprised chancel, nave with south aisle and porch, and west tower. On the north side of the church was a raised, covered passage from the church to the edge of the churchyard for occupants of the Priory. The survival of a 12th-century doorway and chancel arch suggests a rebuilding at that date, although most of the external features of the nave and chancel appear to have been late medieval and the tower was probably built in the 15th century. The church contained a monument with effigies to Sir George Huntley and his wife and some wall monuments by Franklin of Stroud and John Ricketts the elder of Gloucester. In 1851 the church was said to have been much modernized, probably in 1815, and 'encumbered with the most hideous pews and galleries'. In 1858 a new Rector George Henry Evans was appointed after eighteen years of service in several parishes in India and a record of getting new churches built. In 1861 it was decided to replace the church and graveyard, which contained a number of carved stone tomb-chests and headstones and remained in use for some further years, with a new building on a site further south. The land was donated by Mrs. Edward Wise and stone from the old church was used in the new building, which comprised chancel, nave with north aisle, south tower with broach spire, and south porch. The new church was consecrated in September 1863. Rev George Henry Evans died in 1878, still Rector.

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