Church Heritage Record 627344

West tower, aisled nave, with north porch, north vestries and raised south chapel (vault beneath) / transept. Chancel with apsidal east end.

[Approximate] Nave 14 m (46 ft) x 6 m (20 ft), chancel 14 m (46 ft) x 6 m (20 ft), aisles 5m (16ft) wide

The first mention of Bradfield dates from the 7th century, though Neolithic and Roman archaeological finds record earlier settlement within 1 km of the site. The Doomsday Survey records three mills at Bradfield. A medieval holy well is to the north-west.

According to the church history, a church has stood on the site since the 12th century. Rectors have been recorded since 1304 and the stone church dates to the 14th century. At that time the Manor was held by the De la Beches of Aldworth – only the north arcade remains of this date and has been compared to St Mary’s Aldworth. There has been some debate as to whether the tower dates to the 14th or 16th century; it was possibly refaced in the 17th century.

The church was almost entirely rebuilt in 1847-8 under the direction of Revd Thomas Stevens, in association with the architect Sir George Gilbert Scott [1811-78], and was rededicated from St John the Baptist to St Andrew. The rebuild was executed in memory of Stevens’ father who had been rector 1800-1842. The church was constructed in local flint with chalk sourced from a quarry over the road (made into the College’s Greek theatre in 1888) and local wood.

Bradfield College, which now dominates the village and encroaches onto the curtilage on either side, was established by Revd Thomas Stevens, Lord of Bradfield Manor in 1850.  He also employed Scott to design the school buildings. Stevens’ motive is understood to have been driven by the need for a congregation and choristers for his much expanded church. The pair are said to have visited many local churches deriving inspiration for details for St Andrew’s.

Members of the famous Reading brewing family, the Simonds, have memorial plaques inside the church and a large monument at the west end of the churchyard. Of more recent historic interest, the Duchess of Cambridge was baptised here in 1982.

The site is of considerable archaeological potential having had a church on the site since the early 14th century. Relating to the ecology of the plot, the site is within an AONB and CA. It contains two ancient yew trees as well as mature trees.

A large, attractive, irregularly designed flint church with stone dressings around the windows and doors and a continuous stone sill beneath the windows (the majority single lancets), all of which have hoodmoulds with floriated stops. A tall three-stage west tower with gargoyles at the upper stringcourse above two-light louvred openings in each face (clock face attached to those on north side), and finished by a crenelated parapet. An octagonal stair turret in the south-east corner rises further. The tower is constructed from flint separated into blocks by red brick to create brick-like formation. Door on south side.

Nave and aisles are under separate roofs, the gable ends are all of raised stone copings with footstones and kneelers, some with stone cross finials at apex. There is a projecting gabled north porch with a small niche above the door containing a figure of St Andrew. The north transept stands taller than the main roofs with a lower gabled north vestry to its east. The vestry has a truncated stone chimney in the north-east corner - photos c.1940s record its original height. To the south a gabled south extension projects from the south chapel. The east end has a conical roof, and the curved wall has buttresses between each bay.

Land on the south side is higher than the north, so doors in the south nave wall and south chancel have steps down to them.

The main door into the church displays some impressive iron strap-work. On its inside, three steps rise up to the level of the nave and aisles. The north aisle is separated by a three-bay arcade with exposed stone chamfered pointed arches on octagonal stone piers and the south aisle by 3 three bay arcade on oblong piers, the arches on this side have hoodmoulds. The walls are whitewashed, with exposed stone on the north arcade.  The nave floor is paved in red and black quarry tiles with iron grates along the centre aisle. The north aisle is paved in concrete. Nave and aisles are seated with fixed oak pews, on some the top corners of the rectangular ends have been carved, whilst on others they have been left plain.

Beneath the plain pointed stone tower arch at the west end, the base has been rearranged to create a small space for children to play. There is a two-light window in the west wall and a small door in the south wall which leads onto a spiral wood staircase to access the bell chamber, bells and roof above that. The interior roofs are quite simple in construction and of exposed timber trusses, boarded vaults in the chapels. Spotlights fixed at eaves level.

The font is situated at the west end of the north aisle, raised on three steps and the floor around it paved in decorative encaustic floor tiles. Single light in the west wall. An iron rail separates the area from the descending steps to the north door. The organ blocks the pointed stone arch (thought to be the relocated chancel arch of the former church) at the east end of the north aisle. The west end of the south aisle has been partly cleared to form a tea point. The west wall has two-light window and a single separate light in the south-west corner. Towards the chapel are four lights of stained glass grouped together. A south door is accessed up three steps.

Beneath a pointed arch at the east end of the south aisle, and raised by eight steps, is the Stevens’ family chapel. Iron railings with integrated candelabra contain the space to the north side (looking towards choir) and west (aisle) sides. It is seated with wooden chairs and has many memorials on the walls and a vault beneath the floor. An arch to the north opens into the choir and has chevron carved stonework. A tunnel in the north-west corner provides access to the pulpit which projects into the nave. Two single lights pierce the east wall and a rose window is positioned high in the south wall.

The chancel is as long as the nave and raised by three steps (one step at the east end of the nave and two beneath the chancel arch). The pointed chancel arch has a hoodmould above with low walls beneath. Uncarved wall shafts are fixed either side. The floor is paved in decorative encaustic floor tiles, getting richer towards the east with carpet running along the centre. In the south wall is a plaque acting as record of foundation and memorial to Stevens’ parents in whose memory the church was extended. Fixed oak choir stalls, carved by Phillip, are arranged in collegiate style. They display carved figures of the Twelve Apostles to the frontals and ends. Uncarved misericords beneath the seats. To the north of the choir, two arches lead into what is used as the choir vestry. The first is filled by the organ which obscures a two-light window in the north wall, the second archway is open. The north wall has a two-light window. A door to the east leads to the clergy vestry.

Two steps rise to the chancel which is seated with modern upholstered chairs for small services. Decorative floor tile designs are likely to have been based on those from Reading Abbey. The communion rails were made by a local blacksmith, James Holloway (responsible for other ironwork in the church), or a relative.

The sanctuary is a detailed and attractive composition with ornate carved stonework, raised by two steps from the chancel. The sanctuary arch is of three orders - lozenge-shaped, angels with scrolls, then plain, with shafts with floriate capitals. The ceiling is a stone rib vault with each rib carved with chevron or double chevron detail. Each rib rests on a stone shaft with foliated capitals, the motif is repeated around each of the five lancet windows. Foliate stone bosses. Carvings by Jones. The altar is elevated by a further step. A curtain is behind the altar on the east wall and a stone sedilia and piscina are positioned within the south wall.