HISTORY
Moor of the Pigs
According to legend, an angel told St Dubricius (Dyfrig) to establish a monastery where he would find a white sow with her piglets. He named it Mochros - 'moor of the swine'. Moccas Abbey was laid to waste by the Saxons & a plague by 600AD and only a Church (built in 1130) is noted in later charters.
Ownership
In 1086 Moccas was owned by St Guthlac's Priory and Nigel the Physician. Since the 12thC the village has been owned by four families: de Fresnes, Vaughans, Cornewalls, and Chester-Masters.
In 1294 Hugh de Fresnes was licensed to fortify his manor house near Moccas Park, but that castle now has no visible remains.
Interior
The effigy in the centre of the chancel is probably of Richard de Fresne who died in 1375. His crossed legs show he had been on a crusade & the dog at his feet that he died at home. The 13th/14thC windows both have original glass & display the de Fresne Arms; a helm and two green birds.
The Apse has 3 original windows but the memorial glass is Victorian. The Altar was designed by George Gilbert Scott Jr & the altar rail came from the redundant church at Willersley, Herefordshire in 1975. The 12th/13th Century font bowl with its 17th Century cover has a 'modern' stem.
Architecture
The present church, built of local calcareous tufa about 1130, is an almost perfect example of a Norman church.
High in the Nave walls are two round-headed Norman windows. Two others are 14thC, the north one with original glass and tracery similar to the chancel north window.
The Church was re-roofed in 1978. On an oak frame in the roof space at the west end are two bells, both are too large for the open turret on the western gable.
Organ
In 1872 the organ was built-in to the west end by Messers R.Walker, replacing an earlier organ now at Dinmore Manor Chapel. The case was designed by George Gilbert Scott Jr & painted by Thomas Kempe. A swell organ was added in 1875 and the entire instrument was restored in 1980.
Past Events
INFORMATION
The Church of St Michael and All Angels at Moccas is part of the Church of England, in the Diocese of Hereford.
It is overseen by Rev Luci Morriss, Priest in Charge.
LINKS
Other sites about Moccas Church:
Church of England
Moccas Village website
Corpus of Romanesque Sculpture (history)
Britain Express (history of Moccas Church)
Great English Churches (Simon Jenkins)
Local partners:
Moccas Village
Moccas Deer Park
CONTACT
Our postal address for all correspondence is:
Revd Luci Morriss, The Rectory, Cusop, Herefordshire HR3 5RF
or Pam Brown, PCC Secretary on
01497 821 877
Moccas Church, Moccas, Hereford, HR2 9LH
Parking available
ACCESSIBILITY
Please call to check suitability.
Wheelchair accessibility is limited by a 'kissing gate' and grass slope.
OPENING HOURS
Daily, daylight hours