Hailes Church

The church predates Hailes Abbey by a century, but later came under abbey control when it was founded in 1246, and the church served as its gate chapel until the Dissolution of the Monasteries turned the abbey into ruins.

Hailes Church was built around 1135 and consecrated in 1175. This simple church consists of a wide chancel, nave, and small south porch, and the walls are made of rubble, supported on the south by buttresses.

The exterior of Hailes Church may be rather unassuming, but the interior is a whole different story. The interior of the church is charming, rustic and unspoilt, with plastered walls and medieval floor tiles. The font is 13th century, and the rood screen 15th century. But the real treasure inside this charming Norman church is its wonderful collection of medieval wall paintings, all of which are believed to date from the late-13th century, after the abbey was established.

As you enter, you see directly opposite you on the north wall, a giant medieval wall painting of St Christopher with his long yellow staff. On the south wall, facing St Christopher across the nave, is a medieval hunting scene of a huntsman and three hounds chasing a hare.

The chancel contains the most wall paintings, and they are the most vivid and attractive. Both the north and south walls, and around the large east window, are covered in beautiful vivid paintings. The paintings include crests and symbols, a castle, an eagle, a winged elephant, a dragon, and many other imaginary medieval beasts. There are further wall paintings in the deep Norman window splays, including a figure of St Catherine on the north wall and a painting depicting St Margaret of Antioch with a dragon on the south wall.

The east window is very attractive, with large sections of medieval glass that came from the abbey, showing figures of saints. There are two 14th-century grave slabs set into the floor of the sanctuary on either side of the altar, which may also have come from the abbey. There is a third 14th-century slab, well hidden under the floor beneath a wooden floorboard between the north choir stalls. There are some very nice medieval floor tiles on the chancel floor, many of which bear heraldic motifs, which were also moved here from Hailes Abbey after the Dissolution.

You should definitely pay a visit to Hailes Church if you’re in the area or already visiting Hailes Abbey. This small Norman church is a real treasure, full of history, and just the stunning medieval wall paintings alone make this church well worth a visit.