Herefordshire Past — Everything you wanted to know about Herefordshire’s past

St. Mary’s Church – Kings Pyon

A lovely Norman church, but difficult to photograph as it sits on its own little hill!

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - exterior

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - interior

Font

12th century wooden font…..ornately carved.

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - font 2 wood

 
One of the carvings at the base of the wooden font, which appears to show a winged Knight Templar

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - wooden font detail

 
The top of the font, which can be raised and lowered using an ingenious pulley system

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - wooden font top

2nd font, possibly 13th century

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - font

Memorials

Mid 14th century effigy of what is believed to be a Mortimer and his wife. There is considerable damage to the stone

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - mortimer effigy

 
another view of the effigy, showing the lion at the foot

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - mortimer effigy2

Elizabeth Carpenter

Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Elizabeth Carpenter relict of James Carpenter Esq. of the Hide Field in this parish, who conscientiously discharged through life the various duties of a Christian, a parent, and a friend, and died universally esteemed and respected the 9th day of June 1794 aged 70. Sacred to the memory of James Carpenter, eldest son of James Carpenter Esq. by Elizabeth his wife, who died the 17th day of July 1792 aged 37

Kings Pyon - Herefordshire - St. Marys - memorial plaque

 
There are also memorials to the Tomkyns family who farmed nearby and were responsible for breeding the original Hereford cows.