St Faith

St Faith's is a Grade I listed building with a remarkably peaceful and welcoming atmosphere. It is set in the beautiful Cotswold stone village of Overbury, a popular starting point for walkers on the southern slopes of Bredon Hill.

The church's earliest positive dating is c1040, when the massive double row of stone columns was erected. The font is Norman with carved stone panels. In the south aisle is a 13th century coffin lid with a carved cross.The chancel is an excellent small scale Early English example: vaulted roof and delicate tracery, carved bosses and capitals and elegant lancet windows. In the 14th century north and south aisles were added, the roof of the nave raised, clerestory windows above the columns enclosed inside the building and the south doorway (with Norman mouldings and arch) moved to its present position. The east wall was rebuilt with an elaborate Perpendicular window in the 15th century. It is assumed that the pulpit is made from the rood screen panels once dividing the body of the church from the choir and chancel. The porch was added and the tower vault and aisles rebuilt 1850-80.

Outside, the 14th century tower has gargoyles on all four corners, three of medieval origin with the fourth a 1989 replacement carved by an Overbury born stonemason in the form of a bat to match the three winged grotesques. The heavily timbered memorial lychgate was designed by Sir Herbert Baker in 1921 to commemorate those from the village who lost their lives in WWI. A cloister in the Memorial Garden at the southwest corner of the churchyard records the interment of ashes of more recent residents. Originally designed in 1960s by Sir William Holford it fell into disrepair as a result of poor roof design and the theft of lead. It has recently been totally rebuilt to a modified design.