St Davids, Much Dewchurch

The name Dewchurch means ‘the church of Dewi’ (the Welsh form of David), and in the earliest records the church is called Llan Dewi Ros Ceirion, or ‘the Church of St David on the moor by the medlar trees’. In the 6th century Much Dewchurch lay in the small kingdom of Erging (later anglicised to Archenfield) one of the cradles of Celtic Christianity.

It was customary in the Celtic church to name a church after its founder, and it may be that the cluster of four churches in this part of Herefordshire originally dedicated to St David – Much Dewchurch, Little Dewchurch, Dewsall and Kilpeck – were founded by a local St Dewi and then by later tradition became associated with his more celebrated namesake, the patron saint of Wales.

The original church would probably have been a wooden structure, but in the early 12th century it was replaced by the present church, which is Grade I listed. The south doorway through which you enter has a plain Norman arch, and the interior is dominated by an equally plain Norman chancel arch. The thick walls were originally pierced only with narrow window slits, of which two remain towards the western end of the nave, with another in the chancel.

Later, in more settled times, in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, larger windows were inserted in nave and chancel to brighten what must have been a rather dark interior. The east window dates from around 1400, and the braced collar beam roof of the nave, with its massive trusses, dates from the 15th or 16th century.

The tower was added in the 13th century, although the unusual pyramid roof, with its cedar shingles, is Victorian.

There are six bells, mostly dating from 1723. The porch, with its fine roof timbers of pointed trefoiled wind braces, was added in the 14th century, but the carved stone with interlace pattern inside the porch is Norman.

The carved heads on either side of the arch on the exterior are traditionally said to represent King Edward III (on the east) and Bishop Adam of Orleton (on the west).

After the Reformation the side altars were removed and a large gallery built at the west end of the nave. This remained until 1876, when the church was restored by Sir James Rankin Bt. A north aisle was built to accommodate those who had previously sat in the gallery, together with a vestry, and at the same time the old chancel rails were removed and replaced by a stone balustrade of Algerian Onyx.

The stained glass is Victorian, the oldest window being that in the south wall of the nave depicting the raising of Lazarus; it dates from 1858. The font dates from the 12th century, its bowl decorated with arcading, with a series of small heads around the foot. The pulpit is Jacobean, with tall blank arches and fluted panels above.

At the east end of the nave is a magnificent alabaster monument to Sir Walter Pye and his wife Joan, with their six sons and seven daughters. Sir Walter was a prominent lawyer who became Attorney of the Court of Wards and Liveries, which administered the Crown’s right to take custody of aristocratic orphans and their property – unlucky wards of court would often find themselves sold off in marriage by the king to the highest bidder while their estates were plundered to fill the royal coffers!

The beautifully kept churchyard is mown regularly by a faithful team of local volunteers, the Merry Mowers.

We hope you enjoy your visit!