St Dubricius, Hentland
Location
Information
- Road reference: Off A49 between Harewood End and Pengethley and at the end of a no through road – HR9 6LP
- OS Grid Ref & Postcode: SO 611 366, HR9 6LP.
- Open during day light hours
- Parking available.
- Wheelchair Access.
- Visit the website
Hentland church is one of the oldest in the deanery of Ross and Archenfield and is set in an idyllic position next to Pengethley Park.
The main part of the church dates from the 13th and 14th centuries. The St. Dubricius window with the hedgehog is the symbol of ancient Archenfield called “Ergyng” by the Celts meaning “Land of the Hedgehog”.
The hand pumped organ in the chancel by J W Walker was installed in 1869 and a fund has been set up to restore the decorative organ and the surrounding crumbling plasterwork.
On Palm Sunday each year the ancient custom of the distribution of Pax Cakes takes place with the blessing of Peace and Good Neighbourhood.
The most interesting monument in the old churchyard is the 14th century medieval cross with four effigies on the face.
According to parish records the Great Yew was planted on Shrove Tuesday 13th February 1615.
There is a spring and holy well on the North East churchyard boundary, sometimes called the lip well, one lip was for people, the other for animals.
