Kilpeck Parish Council

(Welcome to Kilpeck Parish Council’s Website)
Kilpeck Church is described as ‘one of the most perfect Norman village churches in England In c.850 a charter records the gift of the Church with a surrounding estate to Bishop Crecielis; The graveyard was originally rounded denoting an even older religious site. It was evidently an important and ancient site. The present building, in red sandstone, is a typical lay-out of nave, chancel and apse of c.1134-1145, though it may incorporate some Saxon masonry. The builder was Hugh de Kilpeck. The Church’s glory is the wealth of decoration, originally painted and is the prime surviving example of the Herefordshire School of Sculpture. Much of it seems to have been produced about the time the church was given to the Benedictine Abbey of Gloucester in 1143; a priory of this Abbey was nearby. The sculptures on the south doorway, chancel arch and west window are magnificent. The eighty-five corbels, include a ‘sheela-na-gig’, probably a fertility symbol. The massive font, is Norman or earlier, the gallery c.17th century. The church stands between the remains of Kilpeck Castle and the six acre deserted medieval village whose main road still serves as an access road to the church..
If you have a local photograph (perhaps with some history) which you would like us to use on our front page please send it to the Parish Council’s Clerk by email Clerk@Kilpeckparishcouncil.gov.uk
Progress on the proposed Kilpeck Neighbourhood Development Plan has had to be paused due until further notice