St Margarets Church

‘My own memory of the perfect Herefordshire is a spring day in the foothills of the Black Mountains and finding among the winding hilltop lanes the remote little church of St. Margaret’s where there was no sound but a farm dog’s distant barking. Opening the church door I saw across the whole width of the little chancel a screen and loft all delicately carved and textured pale grey with time’. Sir John Betjeman

St. Margaret’s Church is of Norman origin noted for a rare example of a rood screen carved in oak. Standing nearly 800ft above sea level it has magnificent views over the Hereford plain to the hills of Dinedor, Aconbury, and Garway and westward to the Black Mountains. The church is included in England’s Thousand Best Churches by Simon Jenkins.

The rood screen dates from c.1520 and is a rare survivor of the post reformation order of 1547 that all such works should be destroyed. The east window is by Archibald Davies (1878-1953) whose work can be found in both Hereford and Worcester Cathedrals.

Another striking feature of the church is the wall texts. Many visitors find these inspiring words a strong reminder that the fabric itself is an act of worship as well as still being a place of worship.

A member of the Herefordshire Churches Tourism group, who has kindly provided this text. More information about Herefordshire's churches  www.visitherefordshirechurches.co.uk