Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints

A substantial medieval parish church comprising a 11th and 12th-century west tower with 15th-century upper stages, and a largely 14th and 15th-century body, subjected to 19th-century restoration by Pritchett and Son of York. The structure displays Norman work in irregular sandstone rubble, with later work in ashlar, and lead roofs throughout.

The west tower rises in four stages. The lower two stages are distinguished by quoins. A restored west doorway with hoodmould is set beneath a three-light Perpendicular window, with several small slit windows to the right and a lancet to each return. The upper stages, constructed in ashlar, are set back at string courses. A clock is positioned beneath two two-light belfry openings on the west side, with a three-light belfry opening to each return. A cavetto-moulded course with water spouts runs beneath an embattled parapet with corner pinnacles.

The nave comprises three bays with flanking aisles and a south porch, followed by a two-bay chancel with north and south chapels continuous with the aisles, and a north vestry. The south porch to the first bay of the aisle features a wave-moulded plinth and offset diagonal buttresses, with a moulded arch, hoodmould and peaked string course above. Its parapet is embattled with corner pinnacles, and the roof is vaulted in ashlar. The aisle displays a plinth and offset band; at its west end stands a diagonal buttress with an ogee-headed niche, with another buttress to the right of the second bay. Three-light windows with cusped lights and curvilinear tracery are set beneath keel-moulded hoodmoulds with carved-head stops. A cavetto-moulded course runs beneath roll-moulded parapet copings. Three two-light clerestory windows light the nave, which is crowned by an embattled parapet.

The chancel is notably lower and embattled. The south chapel features a massive diagonal offset buttress to the right, with another offset buttress dividing two three-light windows; the right window displays different tracery with downswept mouchettes. An ogee-headed priest's door opens from this chapel. A Perpendicular five-light east window with panel tracery and hoodmould lights the chancel. The south chapel's own three-light east window is in the Decorated style, with a raking parapet as the aisle. The north chapel contains a Perpendicular three-light east window with plain-ashlar copings to the parapet. The north wall displays square-headed windows and adjoins a 19th-century added vestry.

Interior features include a nave arcade with square plinths, octagonal columns and moulded capitals to double-chamfered arches. The tower arch has been narrowed and is now reinforced by a concrete sub-arch. A fragment of a Saxon cross is built into the south wall of the tower.

The north aisle preserves two 14th-century recesses, one moulded and the other ogee-headed. The south aisle retains an 18th-century painted ceiling with panels decorated with unicorn motifs, now in poor condition.

The chancel features a double quadrant-moulded chancel arch on tripartite responds with moulded capitals. Evidence of alterations to the chancel is apparent where square-headed window openings are cut across by the double-chamfered arch to the south chapel. On the north side, a tall opening of three cusped-headed lights is similarly cut into by a later arch.

Within the south chapel stands an ogee-headed reredos beneath the east window, with a statue niche and an ogee-headed piscina to its right. Two alabaster effigies rest upon a chest tomb decorated with shields in circles and quatrefoils: a knight with his head on an uncrested helm, and a lady to his left with her head on a tasselled cushion flanked by angels. These are thought to represent Sir John Bosvile and his wife Anne, dating from circa 1400-1410.

The furnishings include 17th-century box pews with knob finials; in the chancel, a family box pew assembled from pre-Reformation bench ends; and poppyhead choir stalls. The font is Perpendicular in style, octagonal and fitted with a heavy Jacobean oak cover. A Jacobean altar rail of sturdy turned oak balusters with moulded rail and large end finials is in place.

The north chapel contains a low memorial surrounded by shields dedicated to Katherin Godfrey, who died in 1658. Above the vestry door is a recently salvaged plaster over-mantle from Low Farm, Edderthorpe, depicting the Savile owls and the Garter of Arms of Queen Elizabeth, though traditionally dated to circa 1630.