St Saviour's Church, Tetbury

St Saviour's stands on New Church Street, on the west side of Tetbury. It was built in 1848 as a chapel of ease for the people who could not afford to rent a pew at the parish church, and it survives almost exactly as it was finished, with fittings by A W N Pugin and John Hardman. The Churches Conservation Trust cares for it, and it is listed Grade II*.

History

St Saviour's was built while John Frampton was vicar of Tetbury, partly paid for by the sale of the right to appoint the vicar, and consecrated in 1848. The Trust and the listing both say it was meant for the poor of the town, who could not afford to pay for seats at St Mary's. The Victoria County History names its architects as S W Daukes and J R Hamilton; the Churches Conservation Trust says Samuel Daukes was assisted by A W N Pugin and John Hardman. It was declared redundant in 1974, and the Trust, which now cares for it, hires it out for events, wedding blessings and funerals; it seats up to 240.

What to look for

The listing calls St Saviour's virtually complete as built, which is rare for a church of the 1840s. From the street, look at the sanctus bellcote on the west gable, the small rose window and the south porch of open timberwork with ogee arches and quatrefoils. Inside:

• The nave arcade, whose piers alternate round and octagonal and carry carved angels
• The pews with pierced quatrefoil backs and poppy-head ends
• The font, with its tall crocketed cover
• The rood screen, and behind it the panelled chancel roof and the five-bay stone reredos by Pugin and Hardman
• The glass over the altar, which the Trust notes throws coloured light across the choir pews and floor, and a carved stone head of a woman

Visiting

St Saviour's is open Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, with no entry fee and donations welcome; it is closed on Sundays. From the lych gate a level tarmac path leads to a level entrance to the porch, but there is a step up into the nave, another through the screen and three to the altar. There are no toilets, no running water and no heating, so dress for the cold in winter.

Getting there

St Saviour's is on New Church Street (GL8 8DS), about five minutes' walk from the Market Place, following the signs for Dursley on the A4135. Buses link Tetbury with Cirencester, Kemble station, Stroud and Bath on weekdays and Saturdays, and Kemble station is about 6.6 miles away. The free Old Railyard car park is a few minutes' walk. The Tetbury town walk passes it near the start of its loop, just after the old police court.

Nearby

Back at the top of Long Street, the old police station and court holds the town's police museum, and the town walk goes on to Cutwell Bridge and St Mary's, the church St Saviour's was built to relieve. The Gilbertine Kitchen and the Priory Inn are a short walk for lunch.