Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints

A parish church containing fragmentary remains of Anglo-Saxon and Norman fabric, substantially rebuilt and enlarged during the medieval period. The building dates from the 14th century (chancel), 15th century (aisles, clerestory and tower), mid-16th century (south porch and chancel vestry doorway), and early 19th century (vestry). The structure was restored between 1844 and 1855 by G. Fowler Jones of York under a scheme devised by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The church was further repaired around 1869 with a new parapet and pinnacles to the tower.

The building is constructed of large dressed stone with limestone to the lower half of the tower and a Welsh blue-slate roof. It comprises a west tower, aisled nave, south porch, chancel and north vestry, all executed in Perpendicular style.

The church stands on a continuous plinth with diagonal buttresses at all corners. The two-stage embattled tower features a pointed-arched doorway of two chamfered orders under a hoodmould on its west face. Above this is a three-light window with panel tracery and a hoodmould with carved face stops. A niche with sculpture of the benefactor Sir Henry Vavasour holding a block of stone contains an inscription dated 1455. Another niche to the right, now vacant, bears an inscription of Richard Burnham. A large clock-face is positioned below the second-stage band, with a two-light belfry window above. The parapet is carried on a corbel table. The south face contains five small arrow slits arranged vertically to light the stair. The tower's lower half is faced in limestone.

The nave extends for four bays. The south porch is set within the second bay of the aisle and has a pointed-arched doorway of two chamfered orders with a hoodmould. Above it sits a much-weathered niche in the apex of a coped gable with kneelers. The porch entrance itself comprises a two-centred arched doorway with a richly-moulded surround and hoodmould with carved face stops. The porch roof is a two-bay arch-braced structure with moulded principals, purlins and ridge piece.

The aisles contain three-light traceried windows set in square chamfered surrounds, all renewed in the 19th century, articulated by offset buttresses. The clerestory features two-light windows with cusped lights and sunken spandrels in square double-chamfered surrounds. The nave is surmounted by a coped gable with a carved apex-stone bearing a cross. The lean-to aisles have coping and, in their inner returns, three-light two-centred arched windows formerly serving chapels. The east gable of the nave shows an earlier, flatter roof line of the chancel now more steeply pitched.

The chancel is lower than the nave and extends for three bays. Anglo-Saxon herringbone masonry is visible on each face, and the windows have been renewed, though one retains its original limestone double-chamfered surround. The masonry is articulated by offset buttresses. The first bay has an added vestry at right angles, featuring a pointed-arched sash window with Gothick glazing in its gable. At the east end, the chancel has a five-light window with curvilinear tracery (renewed) set within an original hollow-chamfered surround with a much-weathered hoodmould. The east gable is a 19th-century addition surmounted by a cross. To its right stands the vestry, faced in limestone, with a doorway having a wedge lintel flanked by two pointed-arched windows with Gothick glazed sashes.

The interior features pointed-arched arcades of two orders carried on octagonal columns with monolithic capitals. The tall tower arch is of two chamfered orders with broach stops and moulded capitals decorated with fleurons. A 19th-century hammer-beam roof spans the nave. The chancel arch is a 19th-century addition carried on corbels with carved heads.

Within the chancel is a Norman window with deeply-splayed sides and a projecting moulded cornice. A curious vestry doorway has an ogee lintel and hollow chamfered surround with a Decorated hoodmould and carved face stops depicting crowned kings. The chancel has a three-bay 19th-century hammer-beam roof with finely-carved angels. Below the east window are the corners of an earlier, lower-level window.

The furnishings include a hexagonal Georgian pulpit with oak raised-and-fielded panels, carved mouldings, inlaid panels and a dentil cornice, together with a carved reading desk on consoles. Nineteenth-century pews are also present.

Monuments include a memorial to William Eamonson of Lazingcroft, dated circa 1781, with a segmental broken pediment surmounted by an urn and an apron decorated with shells. Two marble monuments commemorate the Wilkinsons of Potterton Hall. A raised stone slab bears the Gascoigne coat above a medieval grave slab. A monument to William Vevers of Scholes, dated circa 1767, features a segmental pediment surmounted by an open triangular pediment and a cartouche with heraldic coat. A notable memorial to William Ellis of Kiddal Hall, dated circa 1771, is also present. The interior displays a Royal Coat of Arms.

Stained glass from the 19th century includes an east window by Clayton and Bell of London, dated circa 1867, and an east window of the north aisle dated circa 1858, commissioned for the Gascoigne family and depicting heraldic symbols and knights in 17th-century armour and tabards.

Preserved in the south aisle are two important fragments of tenth-century cross shafts. One displays an interlace design of Ringerike type; the other shows Christ blessing children.