Iron Acton Church, dedicated
to St. James the Less, at 9.30 including several
Poyntz tomb effigies. The
identification one of these tombs is disputed, either representing Sir
Nicholas Poyntz (c1279-1311) or his son Sir John Poyntz (died 1376).
Beneath the floor of the Chapel, in a vault, lie the remains of
Robert Poyntz (1359-1439) and his two wives.
The Church of St. James the Less consists of a nave, chancel, north and south aisles, chapel, and noble tower. 1,2 Actual age of the church is unknown although some of the stones in the church have very intricate carvings and have been dated to pre-Norman.3 One most curious stone of Saxon Origin on the latched side of the church doorway is positioned upside down.
Inside the church the oak pews bear linen-fold carvings. In center of the aisle is beautiful Georgian brass candelabra. The pulpit is richly card from the Jacobean period. Between the Choir, that was restored in 1878, and the Poyntz Chapel are two life-size stone effigies. One is a lady in long full dress and reticulated headdress. The other is a knight in amour.. Still in debate is the identity of this knight. Some suppose it to be Sir Nicholas Poyntz while others the 1st John Poyntz.1, 4
Inside the Poyntz Chapel on the south wall is a canopied altar tomb from the 1500s bearing no inscription. In a vault beneath the chapel Robert Poyntz and his two wives Katherine and Anne are buried.
Standing outside the church is a large stone square preaching cross that stands on a base of three octagonal steps. The cross has an entrance on its southern side. The cross bears eight shields. Four depict symbols of Our Lord’s Passion. Two are blank. The seventh shows Acton impaling Fitz-Nicholl. The last one bears the arms of Acton and Fitz-Nicoll and shows that builder of the cross was Robert Poyntz. Robert’s second wife was Katherine Fitz-Nicholl. He served as sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1396-1397 and Justice of the Peace 1422-1432.
Little remains of the church parsonage that once stood in the southwest corner of the churchyard. On the north tower outside wall is badly weather effigy of a knight in full armor dating from the reign of Edward III.
References and Sites for Further Research
1. Pamphlet on Iron Acton
2. Morris & Co. Commercial Directory and Gazetteer of Iron-Acton 1876
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cbennett/ironacton1876.htm
3. Report on Iron Acton Church, OFHS Newsletter March 1999
4. Family of Poyntz, Sir John Maclean
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