Parish Church Of St Denys

Parish church. The building dates from the late 13th century, with early and mid-14th century work. The south porch was removed in 1840. The church was restored and the chancel rebuilt by H Goddard & Sons in 1867. Further restoration took place in 1884, when the nave and aisles were re-roofed by Goddard & Paget. A north War Memorial porch was added in 1919 by Baines & Povis, and south vestries were added in 1957-58 by Edwards Branson & Edwards.

The building is constructed of rubble stone with ashlar dressings. The nave and aisles have shallow lead roofs, whilst the chancel has a steep slate roof with decorative ridge tiles. The plan comprises a nave with north and south aisles, a west tower with spire, a chancel, a north porch, and south vestries.

The three-stage west tower has a double chamfered plinth, angle buttresses, and battlements. An octagonal stone spire rises above, featuring two sets of alternating lucarnes and a weather vane. The west face displays a single lancet window with a chamfered cill band. The bell stage has a single pointed arch bell opening to each face, with the western opening containing two inner lancets.

The south aisle features a plinth, cill band, moulded parapet, and buttresses with set-offs. The west window and two outer south windows have double chamfered pointed arches with intersecting tracery. A central south doorway, now serving as an inner doorway to the large vestries added in 1957-58, breaks the south elevation.

The chancel, dating to 1867, is distinguished by a moulded corbel table, gabled buttresses, and raised coped gables with kneelers and stone finials. The south side contains a pointed and moulded arched priest's doorway and a tall lancet window. The east end is lit by a pointed arched 4-light window with geometrical tracery. The north side has a single lancet and a projecting gabled organ chamber with a 2-light pointed arched window.

The north aisle includes a plinth, cill band, moulded parapet, and buttresses. An eastern 4-light pointed arched window features unusual tracery. Above, within a gable finial, stands a much restored statue of St Denys. The south front displays three pointed arched windows with cusped intersecting tracery. An off-centre projecting ashlar north porch, added as a War Memorial in 1919, occupies the north side. This porch features a broad pointed arch 4-light window with reticulated tracery.

The nave is lit by three clerestorey windows to each side, all flat-headed 2-light windows with panel tracery.

The interior contains a triple chamfered tower arch and a broad double chamfered chancel arch with responds. Four arched double chamfered arcades to the north and south have compound piers and responds with plain capitals. An elaborate wooden roof to the chancel, dating to 1867, is supported on wall shaft corbels. The remaining wooden roofs were replaced in 1884. Wooden fittings including pews, pulpit, and choir stalls were installed in 1884.

The church contains a stone bowl font of 12th-century date with a central circular stem and four outer columns, raised on two circular steps. A large wooden chest of the early 16th century, with iron banding and studding, is also present.

Monuments include a fine marble wall monument of 1735 to Dr James Sherard MD, topped with a segmental pediment. Two further marble wall monuments commemorate Richard and James Vann, local framework knitters.

Stained glass includes three windows of 1870, including the east chancel window by Lavers, Barraud & Westlake.