Broadwell, St Paul's Church

St Paul's Church, Broadwell

The rural village of Broadwell lies a few miles north of Stow-on-the-Wold, just off the Fosse Way. The parish church, dedicated to St Paul, stands at the western edge of the village, abutting the Manor House, an oasis of calm in a leafy churchyard.

What to see

• Saxon carved stone in the porch
• Norman tympanum with Maltese cross
• Yew tree over 1,300 years old
• Collection of wool bale tombs
• 1585 memorial to Robert Hunckes
• Herbert Weston alabaster memorial, 1635

Saxon carved stone, south porch

History

The Abbey of Evesham claimed the rights to Broadwell as early as AD 708. The Domesday Book of 1086 records a priest in Broadwell, so we have to assume that a church stood here before the Norman Conquest. A carved stone in the church porch bears decorative carving that may be of Saxon origin, a reminder of the pre-Norman building.

The church we see today probably began around 1150 and consisted of a nave and chancel. The 12th-century stonework exists only in the chancel walls and there is an early round-headed window in the north wall.

The 13th-century piscina, south aisle

The 12th-century church was enlarged in the 13th century with the addition of a south aisle with its own altar and piscina. The 13th-century arcade between the nae and south aisle still boasts its original piers and carved capitals.

After the Reformation, the south aisle became the Hodge family chapel and many generations of the family are buried beneath the floor.

The chancel arch was inserted during the 13th century but the large squint was added in the Victorian period.

The tower was built in the 15th century but the south porch was only added in the 17th century. The church was heavily remodelled in the 1860s, possibly by the architect Ewan Christian, who was at that time working on Broadwell Hill.

The Norman tympanum

The Norman north door was removed during the Victorian restoration but the semi-circular tympanum from this door was rescued and built into the north wall of the tower stair. The decorative carving on the tympanum is exceptional, though weathered, and you can see a Maltese cross in the centre of the design.

Another reminder of the Victorian restoration are the beautifully carved stone corbels in the chancel. The corbels depict unknown kings, queens, and clerics.

The Weston memorial, 1635

Monuments

The church interior is full of historical memorials. The most impressive of these is an alabaster monument in the south-west corner of the church to Herbert Weston and his wife, dated to 1635.

The memorial shows figures of Weston and his wife and daughter kneeling and facing a prayer desk. Interestingly, the epitaph is in both Latin and English. This memorial stood for many years on the north wall of the chancel before being moved to its current location.

Robert Hunckes memorial, 1585

In the same corner of the church is a memorial to Robert Hunckes (d. 1585). The epitaph has been defaced, presumably because Hunckes was the great-uncle of the officer who presided over the trial of King Charles I. Some sources record the date of Hunckes' death as 1565 but the memorial bears the date of 1585.

Standing almost at the foot of the Hunckes monument is an octagonal stone font with quatrefoil decoration, dated to the early years of the 15th century.

On the north wall of the chancel is a mural monument to John Frodsham, a captain in the Royal Navy (d. 1791) and his wife Anne (d. 1830). Nearby is a memorial to Emily Dryden (d. 1843), wife of Reverend Leopold Dryden, rector of Witnash in Warwickshire. Emily Dryden is remembered here in Broadwell because her father served as the rector of Stow-on-the-Wold.

Also on the wall is a brass plaque to the memory of Henry Cholmondeley, who served as the rector of Broadwell for 52 years and was responsible for the Victorian church restoration.

Looking east up the nave

In the nave is a memorial to the 13 men of Broadwell who died in WWI. One of those named on the memorial is John Egerton Leigh, Captain in the King's Royal Rifles, who was killed in action at Metz en Couture in 1917. The epitaph reads:

'He was buried with other brave men
Close to the place where he fell.
His heart for his home, his life
For his country, his soul for God.'

In the south aisle is a stained glass window to Leigh's grandparents, Egerton and Lydia Leigh, who died in 1876 and 1893 respectively. Set into the wall immediately beside the window is a very simple 13th-century piscina in a decorated stone niche.

Also in the south aisle is a memorial to the Hodges family dated 1670 while set into the floor is a poignant stone tile in memory of John Collier, who died in 1715 at the age of 9 weeks and 5 days. Nearby is a grave slab in honour of several generations of the Hodges of Broadwell Manor, the oldest being Donne Hodges, who died in 1662.

The ancient churchyard yew

Yew Tree

The oldest historical feature is in the churchyard and it is not a memorial but the large yew tree that dominates the south side of the burial ground. This has been certified by the Conservation Association as being at least 1,300 years old.

In front of the yew tree is a chest tomb with a carved plaque to John Chadwell, who died in 1577.

A 'wool bale' Chadwell tomb

Wool Bale Tombs

Outside the east end of the chancel is an outstanding collection of 'wool bale' tombs, of a style found throughout the Cotswolds. Many of these tombs bear the coat of arms of the Chadwell family, lords of the manor at Broadwell since the early 15th century. One tomb depicts four kneeling mourners within round-headed arches on each side.

The design of these wool bale tombs is traditionally thought to depict corded bales of wool, since it was wool that made the fortunes of many a medieval and Tudor merchant in the Cotswolds region.

The Leigh window, south aisle

Visiting

St Paul's Church stands at the western edge of the village on the lane that leads across the A429 and on to Donnington. It is normally open daylight hours and has been open every time that we visited. There is no dedicated car park that we could see but it is very easy to park along the verge.

Note: Do not confuse this Broadwell with the village of the same name in near Carterton, in Oxfordshire, about 15 miles to the south.

This is an utterly delightful country church in a peaceful village setting.