THE NORMAN CHURCH The church at Bishop's Cleeve was rebuilt in the later part of this period in the Transitional style (late Norman to Early English, 1150-1190), probably around 1170. Enough of this early church remains to indicate what it was like originally.

It was cruciform in shape with a CHANCEL, probably apsidal at this stage, NORTH and SOUTH TRANSEPTS and a NAVE enclosed on either side by narrow aisles; at the crossing there was a TOWER. At the west end two external TURRETS with pinnacles and inner winding staircases led to a high western gallery. The external WEST DOORWAY is also original as is the SOUTH PORCH and much of the UPPER PORCH ROOM, reached at this time byan external staircase. The windows of this building were narrow with round arches and deeply splayed interiors to admit the maximum amount of light. There is one orig- inal window remaining at the west end of the SOUTH AISLE, and others now blocked in the north and south transepts. The walls were covered in plaster and painted with brilliant colours of gold, black, white, red and blue. The outside walls were lime- washed.

THE MEDIEVAL CHURCH The chancel was enlarged in the early part of the 14th century. Alterations to the NORTH and SOUTH AISLES and TRANSEPTS took place in the 14th and 15th centuries and CHANTRY CHAPELS were added. The extended chancel formed the Collegiate part of the church for the sole use of the clergy, deacons and acolytes, cut off from the rest of the building and people by the ROOD SCREEN. Above the rood screen was an organ loft.

Changes were made later in the 16th or more likely 17th century, to the structure of  the nave, and the oak GALLERY was added in the early 17th century. In 1696 the tower collapsed onto the chancel and was rebuilt in 1700.

15th Century ladder leading to the ringing chamber and tower.

Click here to go to the Post Reformation Church, and more pictures.