You might like to know that if you're travelling round the area and need to plan a midway picnic stop, St Weonards has seats in the churchyard with extensive views over the hills to the east (and the church has toilet facilities too)!
Quick links: Garway : Hentland : Hoarwithy : Michaelchurch : Orcop : Pencoyd : St Weonards : Tretire
Garway
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The earliest record of a monastery here is in 615 AD, but it was with the arrival of the Knights Templar in 1180 that the history of the church at Garway becomes clearer. The Templars built a number of partly round churches (copying the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem) including this one. The round foundations can be seen clearly on the north side of the church, and the original carved chancel arch still survives. There are so many fascinating things to see and discover at Garway that this space is too limited. You can find out more from Audrey Tapper's book, available in the church. Most of the current church - no longer round - is probably 13th century, including the massive tower which was once separate from the main church building. Here are just four of the carvings to find, all inside the church and some quite difficult to spot: a "green man" (click the picture for a clearer view) , a sword, a fish and a snake. Garway Church is a very important part of the community and in addition to regular services it is used for other events - in the past year alone there have been: a historical pageant about the history of Garway and Archenfield, a May Day celebration, a well-dressing (at the reopening of an ancient holy well), preservation of wild flowers in the churchyard and a Festival of Memories. For more information about the church, visit the relevant Historic Herefordshire Online page. And don't miss all the detailed information about the church and many facets of Garway past and present at the Garway website! See also the Great English Churches website. Finding
Garway church: Google maps link |
Hentland |
For details of
Hentland church please click
here for Hentland and Hoarwithy's own Website. For more
information about the Hentland Church building, click here to visit the relevant
Historic Herefordshire Online page. Finding Hentland church: Google maps link Postcode for satnav: HR9 6LW (Grid reference: SO 542 263): Take the A49 from Ross towards Hereford. After the Pengethly Garden Centre and Pengethley Manor Hotel, take the next road on the right. After nearly a mile, on a bend to the left, turn right and follow the small lane to its end, where you'll find this beautiful, secret church backing on to National Trust land. |
Hoarwithy |
For details of Hoarwithy church please click here for Hentland and Hoarwithy's own Website. For more information about the Hoarwithy church building, click here to visit the relevant Historic Herefordshire Online page. Finding Hoarwithy church: Google
maps link |
Michaelchurch
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This is a beautiful little redundant church where we have a service once a year (around Midsummer). It's looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust who keep it in excellent order and we are very grateful to them. The first recorded church at Michaelchurch is thought to have been built around 1056, but the present north and west walls are probably later (around 1200) and the other walls are 13th century. Some of the medieval and later wall painting and texts are still visible. The font is Norman, and opposite the door is a Roman altar leading us to wonder just how ancient this site is as a sacred place. For more information about the Michaelchurch church building, click here to visit the relevant Historic Herefordshire Online page. Finding Michaelchurch: Google
maps link
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Orcop |
Orcop is a cosy, peaceful church with a long history, dating back to the 12th century, although many original features were lost in Victorian renovations in the 1860s. The nave and north aisle were built in the 13th century. The tower was built in the 16th century and has an unusual weatherboarded top section. For more information about the church building, visit the relevant Historic Herefordshire Online page. Finding Orcop church: Google
maps link |
Pencoyd |
The earliest part of Pencoyd is probably the 14th century tower. The church was restored in 1878 when a new chancel was built. Today, Tretire and Pencoyd form one parish. Finding Pencoyd church: Google
maps link |
St
Weonards  Click
here to download a
copy of the current
St Weonards Church Guide
(PDF format)
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Although
most of the current building dates from the 16th century, parts of the
earlier 13th century structure are still visible, particularly the
chancel arch, lower part of the south wall of the nave and the inner
doorway of the porch. The Mynors Chapel was built in 1521 and Sir
Richard Mynors still lives in Treago Castle just down the road. There
are a number of interesting features in the church and the remains of a
15th century cross in the churchyard. The tower has six bells which are
regularly rung. The facilities in the church
include kitchen and toilet areas. St Weonard (or possibly Weonards) is shrouded in the mists of antiquity but may have been a local hermit and/or a woodcutter - he may also have been the same person as the Welsh St Gwennarth. For more information about the church building, click here to visit the relevant Historic Herefordshire Online page. Finding St Weonards church: Google
maps link |
Tretire |
The lovely little church at Tretire was built in 1856. It is a light and airy building with fine views and a peaceful atmosphere. recently enhanced by the installation of a "new" organ - more details to be posted. Finding Tretire church: Google
maps link |
