Relhan Collection : 159 Girton church. View from SE

Relhan, Richard, 1782-1844

Relhan Collection

<p style='text-align: justify;'><p>1819</p><p>St Andrew’s church was having its chancel roof repaired when Relhan drew this view. The plan of the church, with aisles to nave embracing the late C11 tower and chancel, is C13; the 3-light windows are similar and of this date. The tower has an upper stage and parapet drawn with a small spirelet and sanctus bell. The lozenge--shaped plaque on S side is possibly the church clock recorded by Cole in 1743. The porch, raised for a parish room in C15, has a crenellated parapet, similar to the whole church; Relhan has faithfully copied the parapets. The chancel had been repaired in 1725 and the two N windows blocked. They were similar to those on S side; it was re-roofed after Relhan’s visit. Changes made by 2018 encompass thorough repairs 1853, further repairs 1920, 1959 and 1964, renewing roofs and floors, rebuilding E chancel wall and rendering the whole, including the parapet to the tower. The clock was replaced in C19 and a figure of St Andrew was placed in a niche above the porch entrance, with replacement 3-light window above. The Royal arms were repainted 1801-1816. The churchyard, shown without grave stones apart from the railed obelisk, was enlarged in 1899 and 1936. The obelisk survives only as a stone base. Bell in 1883 records a range of old coffin lids, much worn, from the coping of the E churchyard wall and in 1911 ‘a range of old coffin stones, much worn, of great interest, form coping of E churchyard wall’. </p><p>Bell 2013; Bradley and Pevsner 2014; Davis EM pers comm; Evelyn-White 1911; Palmer 1932; VCH 1989</p></p>