St Margaret's Church, Corse
Vicar
The Rev'd Canon John Evans
01452 840302
Curate
The Rev'd Penny Hamer
01452 700314
PCC Secretary
Mrs J Latter
01452 78059
Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers
Church Services:
Subject to change on feast days (Christmas, Easter etc) 1 st Sunday in the month 8:30am 2 nd Sunday in the month 10:30am Family and Children's Service 3 rd Sunday in the month 8:30am 4 th Sunday in the month 9:30am 4 th Sunday in the month UBS (taken in rotation with the other parishes)
Weddings, Christenings and Funerals by arrangement with Canon Evans
Image shown above below shows the inside of St. Margaret's church in Corse village.
Church Information
The proximity of the church to the moated manor house called Corse Court suggests that the church may owe its foundation to the occupants of this house. Although the font in the 12 th century, no part of the fabric has been identified as earlier than the 14 th century. The earliest mention of the church is of 1290, when the prior of the Deerhurst was the patron of Corse Church. His patronage reflects the fact that Corse had been part of the large area served by Deerhurst priory church.
The church was first recorded as being dedicated to St. Margaret in 1710. it is of stone with a roof partly of Cotswold stone slates and partly Welsh slates. It has chancel, nave, north and south porches and western tower with spire. Most of the fabric of the church derives from the late 14 th century, in 1857 the church was said to be in good order: later restoration was done in 1913. The nave was built with considerably larger stones than the chancel and has a plinth, which is missing from the chancel. The chancel itself has a trussed rafter roof, and the roof of the nave which is now seen plastered with a single moulded tie-beam, may be similar. The three-light East Window has restored 15 th century tracery, and four windows in the side walls of the nave and chancel are two 14 th century lights.
The North porch is of open timber framing and appears to be of date near 1500. the south porch, in stone, was used as an entrance porch in 1791 but later became a vestry. The tower, of three stages, with an ashlar-covered broach spire and diagonal buttresses, is of the 14 th century. There is a stair turret on the north side. One of the louvered windows to bell chamber was added in the 15 th century or later. The finial of the spire has had to be renewed recently, the original crocketted finial, much weathered, stands in the churchyard.
One of the bells is of the late 16 th century and three are of the 17 th. In 1907 the four bells were recast and two trebles added. An accident chest stands by the vestry door; the alter table is 17 th century. The 12 th century font has scallops below the bowl and a band of cable ornament. The windows contain fragments of ancient glass. The plate is of the early 19 th century. The registers began in 1661, though there are some earlier transcripts.
"History in the Aisles" - from The Citizen
22 November 2006
The 800-year-old church of St Margaret at Corse is to have a local history corner, thanks to Lottery cash.The £29,900 heritage fund award goes toward the cost of providing a display which will inform locals and visitors alike of the village's rich social history - in particular its association with the Chartist Movement and the Quakers.
Last year the parochial church council, chaired by Liz Fowler, decided on creating the local history feature in the 800-year-old Grade I listed church.
This has involved taking out some of the pews and strengthening the floor.
The vicar, Canon John Evans, said: "Local schools, groups and the public will benefit enormously from the displays and hearing talks regarding our village history. The display area will always be open."