Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints

This is a parish church of late 12th-century, 13th-century and 15th-century date, repaired in 1872 and restored between 1930 and 1945. It is constructed in red brick, coursed rubble, ashlar, render and some timber framing, with pantile roofs.

The church comprises a west bell turret, nave, south porch and chancel. The west gable is half-timbered and surmounted by a weatherboarded turret with pyramidal cap and single louvred openings to the south, north and west sides.

The north nave wall is buttressed and set on a plinth in parts. The easternmost bay projects slightly and has a stone band running below the eaves. It contains a single arched two-light window with hood mould, and to the left a single arched window with three pointed arched lights, hood mould and label stops. The east wall of the nave has four tie plates. The north chancel wall is of brick and buttressed, set on a rubble plinth to the east. The east end is of brick and coursed rubble, set on a plinth to the north, with a single window of three pointed arched lights under a segmental arch.

The south chancel has ashlar quoins to the east. It features a late 12th-century round chamfered arched doorway with worn chamfer stops, imposts, hood mould and worn label stops, with a wooden door. To the left is a late 12th-century double lancet with central decoratively carved motif and hood mould. A worn human head label stop is located to the left of these features. Above is a single 15th-century window with two arched and cusped lights under a flat arch with remains of hood mould. The nave exhibits 12th-century herringbone masonry and a single buttress with tie plate. It contains a similar arched window with motif, hood mould and head label stops. The south porch is gabled, half-timbered and dates from the 17th century, set on a plinth on the east side. Its inner late 12th-century chamfered round arched doorway has hood mould with remnants of label stops. The wooden 15th-century door has hinges with some scroll work. To the left of the porch is a single arched 13th-century window with Y tracery, hood mould and human head label stops.

The interior contains the remains of a 15th-century screen dividing nave and chancel, with four chamfered posts and a later balustrade running between. In the south chancel is an ogee arched cusped piscina, and the remains of a 12th-century pedestal and a pedestal piscina. The reveal of the south east nave window is decorated with carved salamanders and vine. A restored 17th-century panelled pulpit stands in the chancel, with some panels being decorated. The 12th-century font is of round ashlar with a moulded base and seven arcaded panels each containing a single primitively carved figure. There are six 16th-century benches and a 17th-century alms box on a pedestal inscribed "Remember the Poor". On the west wall is a board detailing parish benefactions dated 1819. In the north chancel is a sheet of lead decorated with small crests and inscribed "T. Hempsial, R. Bilyard, Church Wardens 1816." The chancel also contains a 14th-century monument of a reclining figure with a dog at his feet and the remains of two angels at the head. Several 18th-century floor slabs are present. The nave roof features bosses in the form of grotesque faces and stylised flowers.