St George's Church, Brinsop - AMAZING - and a thousand years of history

 First of all, I survived my ECG - reasonably discretely clad in a hospital gown the wrong way round (e.g. opening at the front).  He was very thorough. 

I left my gardener in the middle of the rhododendron thicket, with instructions to cut it lower.  Gosh, I think he got a bit carried away, but one end is certainly vertically-challenged now.  He had also instructions to cut some branches off the beech tree to as that has grown vastly in all directions.  Unfortunately I need to be here to steady the ladder so he can do the bits that are still hiding my view.

I thought I would go church-bothering, and my instinct said try Brinsop again.  One I really wanted to visit, but it was shut last time I visited.  Oh my GOODNESS, I am so glad it was open this time (Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays).  It is approached along a little lane, and then up a farm track until the church is found inside a bracelet of yew trees and  sitting beside a large pond.  A peaceful spot indeed. The present church dates from 1300-1350, according to Pevsner.

At the time when the Domesday book was written, the manor of Brinsop was held by Alfred of Marlborough, and alongside thirty men and eight ploughs, the church was mentioned.  By 1100 the church paid tithes to Brecon Priory.  

The dedication is to St George and the Dragon - ever popular.  It made me think of Jordan, where we saw it in a 6th C church.

13th Coffin lid.

A plain Norman Font.

Now, wait for it, the Herefordshire Romanesque Tympanum - bunged in the North wall some time later . . .

W.O.W.  This literally made my jaw drop.  I love the way that the horse's back has been lengthened to fit it into the space, and St George too, fits neatly in.  The dragon is in a bad way, with St George's spear piercing its head and his horse trampling it underfoot.  Overhead are the voussoirs, which may not be in their original order.  A pair of affronted lions has some "loosely entwined foliage", and then a Kilpeck-style bird.  Then two figures with baggy trousers which are similar to those at Alveley (one I have yet to get to) and a pair of angels, similarly clad, holding books.  Two Piscean fish come next (as at Kilpeck) and  some more foliage and finally a lion.  The sculptor showed St George using stirrups and spurs, and the right sort of curb bit for the time, so we must assume his quilted? pleated? skirt and flowing cape are also correct.  This Tympanum is compared with one on the tombstone of Sextus Valerius, in the Museum at Cirencester, although Malcolm Thurlby (author of The Herefordshire School of Romanesque Architecture) states that the likely source of inspiration for this Tympanum is likely to be Parthenay-le-Vieux, Vienne.

Over the nearby doorway are the other voussoirs.  Until I got close enough to see it was an angel, I wondered why they had used a Dragonfly as the first motif!  He is similar to that at Shobdon.  Lots more figures (angels and folk in doorways) with baggy trousers, but best of all in the middle, a Green Man!!  Design-wise, the figures have relations at Kilpeck and Alveley.  Thurlby mentions another doorway which I clearly missed as that has more voussoir including another Green Man and a Saggitarius.  I found a photo on line - guess I will have to visit again then!

I did love these little crescent-winged birds though - they also turn up in designs at Kilpeck and Shobdon.

This piece of two strand plaited shaft may have come from an early doorway (as used at Shobdon) or window (Kilpeck).

A lovely rood screen with angels, which can be attributed to Comper, between the wars.  

The Reredos portrays birds plucking at the nails in Christ's hands.

Brass figure of St George and the Dragon.  Comper.  As was much of the stained glass.

Two more (13th C) coffin lids, in a side chapel (photo of that below).

All by Comper.

This will lead to another new post, about the Wordsworth connection to this area and church.  Oh, and Kilvert too!!  I can't believe I didn't take a photo of  the 14th C window OR the one with St George and the Dragon!  I must have got very distracted . . .

This is a very modern take on War.

There will be another post later in the week, which will show the ghostly remains of wall paintings, and focus on the literary connection this church has.