St Lawrence's, Barton on the Heath
Barton on the Heath sits at Warwickshire's south-western edge, about as close as one can get to the Cotswolds without crossing the county border. The church of St Lawrence shows this in its rich honey-coloured stonework, a fairly humble building but one of great charm.
The church is approached from the east where the gabled roofs of chancel, south chapel and the diminutive saddlebacked tower form a delightful group that beckons the visitor onwards. Nave, chancel and south chapel almost seem to be a random huddle of medieval buildings somehow fused into one, and the small tower has a pleasingly rustic appearance. The church has been restored, but fortunately retains much of its medieval character.
Stepping inside (through the odd lean-to south porch) reveals a light, cream-washed interior whose focal point is an unusually small chancel arch, late Norman in date (with carvings on its rear side) and permitting only a glimpse of the small chancel beyond. The space is enlivened by some intriguing glass, medieval fragments compete with the Victorian glass in the east window in the chancel, whilst on the north side of the nave striking modern glass draws the eye with a splash of dense, glowing colour. Best of all however is the group of medieval painted and stained falcons in roughly square panes reset in the westernmost window of the south wall, six in all (one a modern restoration, the rest of 15th century date).
Barton on the Heath church always used to be open daily pre-Covid and is a pleasant village to visit on the edge of the Cotswolds.
St Lawrence's, Barton on the Heath
Barton on the Heath sits at Warwickshire's south-western edge, about as close as one can get to the Cotswolds without crossing the county border. The church of St Lawrence shows this in its rich honey-coloured stonework, a fairly humble building but one of great charm.
The church is approached from the east where the gabled roofs of chancel, south chapel and the diminutive saddlebacked tower form a delightful group that beckons the visitor onwards. Nave, chancel and south chapel almost seem to be a random huddle of medieval buildings somehow fused into one, and the small tower has a pleasingly rustic appearance. The church has been restored, but fortunately retains much of its medieval character.
Stepping inside (through the odd lean-to south porch) reveals a light, cream-washed interior whose focal point is an unusually small chancel arch, late Norman in date (with carvings on its rear side) and permitting only a glimpse of the small chancel beyond. The space is enlivened by some intriguing glass, medieval fragments compete with the Victorian glass in the east window in the chancel, whilst on the north side of the nave striking modern glass draws the eye with a splash of dense, glowing colour. Best of all however is the group of medieval painted and stained falcons in roughly square panes reset in the westernmost window of the south wall, six in all (one a modern restoration, the rest of 15th century date).
Barton on the Heath church always used to be open daily pre-Covid and is a pleasant village to visit on the edge of the Cotswolds.