Church Heritage Record 616421

Nave and chancel under one roof, south porch, north transept.

The fabric of the church is basically mediaeval, and the north transept has a Decorated window in the north wall which presumably indicates the period at which it was added. The body of the church, however, was so much rebuilt in the eighteenth century that its original date is difficult to ascertain. It is possible that the eighteenth century work was late enough to co-incide with the presentation of a set of communion plate in 1801.

The church is approached from the north, which is undoubtedly the most attractive aspect of the building, but is entered in the usual way on the south. From the north, the chief feature is the gable wall of the north transept with its three-light window filled with Geometric tracery and still with the old stone mullions un-renewed. Higher in the wall is a circular clock face with gilded Roman numerals on a black ground, and on the ridge of the roof stands a small rectangular bell-cote containing a single bell. This, with its pyramidal cap, moulded cornice, cusped eaves and weathercock, is a delightful feature. The stonework of the gable in front of it has been partly renewed and finishes in a gabletted base for a carved cross. The west wall of the transept is blind and the east wall has a single ogee-headed light and signs of a later rectangular light (probably for the Georgian gallery) which has since been blocked.

All the windows in the body of the church have been replaced with plain Georgian single-light openings, those in the east and west walls with two- contred arches and two in the south wall rectangular. The two in the north wall have gently curved heads; all are slightly chamfered. There is evidence of a further window, now blocked, west of the south porch and the lower parts of the east window and the two transept windows have been built up with later masonry. The west wall seems to be Perpendicular in date in view of the moulding along the plinth and the ashlar facing (which does not appear elsewhere in the building). The other walls, indeed, have a delightfully varied texture of weathered stone and plaster. The south porch has an outor arch of two plainly chamfered orders and an inner doorway with a roll-moulding, there are stone benches at each side. The walls have some graffiti of considerable age, one dated 1755 which appears genuine from the formation of the figures. The door is Georgian with six fielded panels, and a Stuart further pair of panels in the semi-circulai tympanum.

The interior of the church is an uncommon example of Georgian liturgical arrangement, fortuitously preserved by the fact that the Victorians chose to build a new church in the village rather than refurbish the old, so that the general impression is one which owes nothing whatsoever to nineteenth-century improvements. (The five benches on the north side are recent importations from the newer church). Complementary to this, the subdued colouring of the building, with white walls, pale green pews and faded woodwork, contributes to the atmosphere of simple Georgian taste. The floor is paved with stone flags interspersed with ledger slabs, many now illegible, the walls are plastered and the roof is also ceiled with plaster. In addition, plaster has been applied to laths in an attempt to disguise the three tie-beams which traverse the church. On the south side of the church, recessed between the two windows, stands the pulpit, set high above the minister's desk and clerk's desk and framed within a wooden arch which also embraces the windows to form an architectural framework to the composition. Similar wooden arches span the west end of the nave and the opening to the transept; these, together with hat pegs in the window reveals and along the north and south walls at eaves level, indicate former galleries which have since been dismantled. Another remment of vanished furnishings survives in the middle tie-beam, a hook for a brass chandelier (dated 1818 and now in the Victorian church). The box pews on the north side of the nave have also disappeared, but those on the south remain complete, all very narrow and one even with seats on both sides.

The purpose of the blocking in the lower part of the east window is made clear within, for the reredos covers this area, with the usual texts in round arched panels set under a gently sloping moulded top edge. The original communion table has unfortunately been replaced by a deal table, but the iron rails with mahogany capping survive, set on a moulded stone stop which defines the constricted sanctuary. To north and south are further box pews with two rows of seats in each. On the walls of the church are several marble tablets of varying importance, and the west end is screened by a curtain to form a vestry. The dado here has been stripped out to allow the stonework access to fresh air, since the level of the floor is considerably below that of the ground outside.

In the north transept is a wooden staircase giving access to the clock and bell turret, and the weights of the former descent unguarded in front of the window. Here too the floor is paved with stone flags, and there are signs that there were once box pews along both sides leaving a narrow central alley. The only furnishing now is a large two-manual harmonium. The reveal of the east window has been cut away to form a rectangular surface, and stone corbels at each side together with a small recess for piscina or credence to the right suggest the former site of an altar. There is also a trefoiled piscina of mediaeval date in the south wall of the chancel.