141 



KILPECK CHURCH. 



[Extracts from Mr. G. R. Lewis' Monograph.] 

 Mr. G. H. Piper, F.G.S., Vice-President, brought with him extracts, which 

 are too long for insertion here, whilst the Vicar, Rev. E. R. Firmstone, exhibited 

 at the same time Mr. G. R. Lewis' Monograph upon this building. Mr. Piper 

 remarked :-The church of Saint David at Kilpeck, is one of the most perfect and 

 most interesting specimens of Norman ecclesiastical architecture in England, 

 remarkable in every feature, and worthy of the careful study of the most learned 

 archseol. .gists. The remarks I am about to read are chiefly extracted from a book 

 published in 1842 by the late G. R. Lewis, an artist who was connected with the 

 county of Hereford by marriage, and as I have the volume with me you will 

 have the advantage of seeing the very numerous and beautifully executed 

 lithographs of the cornices, corbels, and other details of the building which might 

 otherwise escape your notice. Mr. Lewis had the advantage of visiting the 

 church when the original roof was still on the apse, and in the year 1818 he made 

 several sketches of it. At that time the walls bore unsightly coatings of white, 

 bu£E, and grey wash, but he saw the remains of a good deal of fresco painting 

 upon the walls, and upon the sculptured forms. Those present who remember 

 the gratification we derived during the year 1878 in the inspection of the most 

 interesting mural paintings at Kempley Church (see ' Transactions of Woolhope 

 Naturalists' Field Club' for that year, page 79, ct seq.) will most regret the 

 destruction of similar decorations here. Mr. Lewis deals largely and learnedly 

 with symbols in the general design and details of the building. 



For following him through his ingenious symbolical interpretations, the 

 enquirer must be referred to the work itself, which is admirably illustrated with 

 engravings. 



NOTES ON KILPECK PRIORY. 

 [By the Rev. Wm. Bazelet, Matson Rectory, Gloucester, and Secretary of the 

 Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society.] 

 The munificent donations of Hugh Fitz Norman in 1134 were probably 

 made on condition that a dependent Priory or cell of Benedictine Monks should 

 be established at Kilpeck, and this was done within a few years. The object of 

 Hugh, son of William Fitz Norman, in making this decision, was to have a 

 civilising centre among his tenants and serfs, as well as a regular supply of 

 chaplains for his churches of Kilpeck and Dewchurch and his castle chapel. The 

 monks of the new Priory would be partly clerical and partly lay, and whilst the 

 former were engaged in the services of the church, or the household duties of the 

 Priory, the latter would be cultivating the Priory lands. We must not look upon 

 the monks of those days as drones or as revellers. They lived under strict rules, 

 and had plenty of healthy occupation as well as religious privileges. The Prior 

 of Kilpeck seems to have had the entire charge and responsibility of the Priory 

 lands, although he was of course bound to render some allegiance to his lord, the 

 Abbot of St. Peter's. In return for this he had a vote in the election of a new 



