Chaddesley Corbett - St Cassian's Church

St Cassian's Church

While references in the Domesday Book imply that there was a church at Chaddesley Corbett before that date, the present nave dates from the 12th century with later additions. Additions and alterations followed in succeeding centuries. For example, the St Nicholas Chapel added in the 13th century; chancel, north aisle and south aisle added in the 14th century; vestry (probably) added in the 16th century when the south aisle and St Nicholas Chapel were also altered; the tower and spire added in the 18th century; north aisle widened and vestry altered in the 19th century.

20th and 21st century alterations include repairs, improvements, and other memorials. Amongst these are a large Roll of Honour, listing those who served in World War I, housed in the tower which is also the main entrance to the nave, and two windows commemorating soldiers killed during World War II. The pipes of the organ were relocated to a gallery at the west end of the nave when the St Nicholas Chapel was refurnished. There is now a small kitchen in the choir vestry, and a toilet meeting modern standards under the D.D.A. The pipe organ, currently 3 manuals plus pedals, was first built in 1817 and relocated from a west gallery during major restoration and alterations in 1863-4.

The monuments begin with those to members of the Corbett family, local lords of the manor and benefactors of the church. A wide variety of other people are also commemorated. The set of three tablets listing the Wheelers and Harwards of Winterfold is an interesting example. Other memorials are in stained glass windows, of which the south chancel window is a fine example. The south aisle wall leans significantly, and is supported by a substantial flying buttress. This happens to be located the other side of the wall from the Wheeler-Harward tablets.

The Norman stone font is thought to be the work of the Herefordshire School of sculptors, active c.1125-1150, which drew on Romanesque models from southern Europe. It features a main motif of interlaced dragons—symbolising, perhaps, the evil of original sin which is washed away in baptism—with other interlacing patterns along the rim and base. The dragons resemble Romanesque north Italian models, especially the pulpit of San Giulio abbey in Piedmont, but their interlacing is a motif of indigenous Anglo-Irish origin.

• Chaddesley Corbett Church, Norman font

• Chaddesley Corbett Church, WWI roll of honour

• Chaddesley Corbett Church, Wheeler-Harward memorials

• Chaddesley Corbett Church, south chancel window

• Chaddesley Corbett Church, flying buttress