Location: On minor road west of A465, in the hamlet of Walterstone.

Grid reference: SO 341250 Post code: HR2 0DX

• There are superb views towards the Skirrid (in Welsh: Y Sgyryd Fawr), also known as the Holy Mountain.
• The parish has an Iron Age hillfort and reported Roman remains [see: Iron Age Hillforts and Roman Sites in Herefordshire].
• Walterstone motte–and–bailey castle is adjacent.
• The Church site is older than the present building. The font is c.13th century.
• It is likely that the later walls of the Church, dating from restorations in the 16th to the 19th centuries, stand on the original foundations. However, the earliest visible parts of the Church to survive are the chancel windows of c.1500, and the medieval base and shaft of the churchyard cross.
• The Church was the mausoleum, or preferred burial place, of the Cecil (in Welsh: Sitsilt) family who lived at nearby Allt–yr–Ynys. They were the ancestors of Sir William Cecil, Lord Burghley, Lord Treasurer in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. They also had close connections with Dore Abbey and with the family of Blanche Parry (see Bacton Church).


©Terry Richardson 2015

• Lord Burghley did not know the area as his father left for Lincolnshire before his birth. However, he described himself as Blanche's cousin. Olive (grand–daughter of Blanche's great–uncle) married Lord Burghley's cousin William Cecil, who continued to live in the Cecil family home of Allt–yr–Ynys in Queen Elizabeth's reign. The close family relationship of Blanche and Burghley would be a focal point of Queen Elizabeth's Court.
• Lord Burghley paid for William Cecil's funeral at Walterstone Church in 1598. This was a grand ceremony, with the Church and churchyard overflowing with mourners, see below.
• The Cecil Window is early 17th century stained–glass depicting the quartered arms of the family of Cecil and was brought here from Allt–yr–Ynys.
• Later monuments include a 1775 Price tablet of slate signed by Aaeron Brute, a notable sculptural mason of the 18th century. The Price family included vicars of Walterstone and early pioneers of the Church Missionary Society.

An account of William Cecil's funeral on 6th March 1598 is given in a letter, No.49, among the Salisbury Manuscripts, vol.VIII, page 83:

Paul Delayhay to Lord Burghley....

'According to your will and command, I have perused my father–in–law Cecil's Will [William Cecil of Allt–yr–Ynys], and the 6th inst celebrated the funeral as followeth.
First 6 poor men of that parish in gowns went before the coffin, next to them the preacher James Ballard, a prebend [prebendary] of the Church of Hereford [Hereford Cathedral], and a Cecil by descent, in his mourning gown, accompanied by my Uncle Parry of Morehampton [Olive's father], followed.
Next to then the coffin covered with black cloth, whereupon 12 scutcheons of Cecils, Parrys and Harbatts' [Herberts] arms were fastened, three of which I commend to you, and carried by 6 of my father–in–law's men in black unto the churchyard and then by 6 of his sons–in‐law into the Church.
After the coffin followed his 8 sons–in–law in mourning cloaks and answerable apparel, and three of his nephews.
After followed Matthew's wife, the 8 daughters, and my father–in–law's sister Alice in mourning attire.

Regarding the deceased William Cecil: His wife [Olive] refused to be present albeit requested and a gown's cloth sent to her. [This suggests a happy marriage as presumably Olive was very distressed by William Cecil's death.]

The Church was hanged with black cloth and the assembly was such that the Church could not contain them.

After dinner, there was a dole of 2d. [2 pence] bread and 2d. in money given to every poor person, being then in number 440. The next day a dole of 1d. bread and 1d. in money was given to every poor person, being in number 140; and so in worshipful manner was the funeral celebrated to your Lordship's commendations, for that to the credit of the house of Alterenes [Allt–yr–Ynys]. I gave out the charge to be yours, which amounteth to 100/. [shillings] and mo. [more] as by particulars shall be manifested....

[written from] Preston–on–Wye, the 13th day of March 1597 [1598 modern dating].
Sealed by Paul Delahay.

He added:... My brother [actually brother–in–law Matthew] Cecil lyeth dangerously ill.

Matthew, apparently William Cecil's only surviving son, died shortly afterwards.
There are also several references to estate documents.
My thanks to Jenny Houston for this information, found in the National Library of Wales.

NOTE: In 1598 1d. [1 pence] = 44 pence now.
Lord Burghley paid 100+ shillings which = c.£602+ today.
This funeral was a grand affair for a rural gentleman and maintained the Cecil family honour.