Church Of St Wilfrid

Church of St Wilfrid

Parish church. Chiefly 14th and 15th centuries, with early 18th-century additions and substantially restored in 1874 by Hodgson Fowler. Built in ashlar, dressed stone and coursed rubble with ashlar dressings and slate roofs. The church is distinguished by a continuous crenellated parapet throughout.

The building comprises a west tower, nave, north aisle, north porch, south aisle, south porch and south chancel (Lexington) chapel.

West Tower

The four-stage tower has a moulded plinth, three string courses, moulded eaves band and four gargoyles. It is topped by four crocketed pinnacles. The west and east faces are clasping buttresses, which change to diagonal buttresses at the third stage.

The first stage contains stair lights to the south and west, with a sill band. The second stage has to the west a restored 16th-century triple lancet with cusped round heads and Perpendicular tracery. The mullions are coved, and the reveals are coved, rebated and roll moulded, with a hood mould and mask stops. The third stage has to the south a single elliptical headed louvred opening, and to the west a restored chamfered rectangular opening with lattice infill. To the north is a clock face. The fourth stage contains four 15th-century double lancet bell openings with coved mullions, chamfered reveals and hood moulds with mask stops.

Nave

The nave has three bays and a crenellated east gable with a cross and moulded eaves band. At the north-east corner is an octagonal stair turret with two chamfered doorways. On both long sides are three restored 15th-century triple lancets with plain round heads and panel tracery. The mullions are coved, the reveals coved and double coved, and the hood moulds are present. The nave arcades (north and south) are of late 14th-century date, with three bays, chamfered cruciform piers with moulded octagonal bases and capitals, with matching responds. The arches are double coved and roll moulded with hood moulds. The nave has a 19th-century low-pitched principal rafter roof with arch braces on octagonal corbels and moulded principal timbers. Above the arcades is a coved sill band and double cove moulded window reveals.

North Aisle

The north aisle, three bays, has a deep moulded and chamfered plinth, sill band and coved eaves band. A single diagonal buttress stands to the east, and a single intermediate buttress to the north with two setoffs. The east and west ends have single windows, and the north side has two windows. All are restored 15th-century triple lancets with round heads and Perpendicular tracery. The mullions are coved, the reveals double coved, and the hood moulds are present. The north aisle has a 19th-century low-pitched principal rafter roof, a replica of the 19th-century roof in the south aisle. The two central bays have moulded and billeted tie beams and moulded braces to moulded arched principal rafters. Moulded purlins and ridge are present.

North Porch

The north porch, of 15th-century date, has a plinth, sill band, eaves and parapet matching those of the north aisle. A pair of diagonal buttresses to the north have a single setoff and plinths. The north doorway has a chamfered and coved four-centred arched head with hood mould. The interior contains stone benches and, to the east, a stoup. It is covered by a 19th-century low-pitched principal rafter roof with roll moulded timbers. The interior north door has a restored four-centred arched head, coved and rebated, with a coved hood mould. The original 15th-century door has lancet panels.

South Aisle

The south aisle, three bays, is similar to the north aisle, with a single diagonal buttress to the west and a single buttress to the south, both with two setoffs. A single window stands to the west and two to the south. All are 15th-century triple lancets with round heads and simple panel tracery. The mullions are coved, the reveals coved, and the hood moulds are present.

South Porch

The south porch is identical to the north porch in detail. The south doorway is identical to the north doorway but less restored. It contains a 19th-century door.

Tower Arch and Interior Tower Space

The tower arch, of 15th-century date, is double chamfered and rebated with octagonal responds with moulded bases and billeted, crenellated capitals. The tower chamber has a 15th-century plank door with a four-centred arched head.

Chancel

The chancel, two bays, has a partial deep moulded plinth, coved eaves band and an east gable with a cross and niche containing a figure. The east end has a pair of diagonal buttresses with two setoffs. The north side has a blocked doorway to the east, with remains of a buttress above, and to the west a restored four-centred arched doorway with hood mould. Further west is a 15th-century triple lancet with round heads and Perpendicular tracery, coved mullions and reveals and hood mould. The east end has a late 15th-century five-light lancet with four-centred arched heads and panel tracery. The mullions are chamfered and the reveals are double coved with a Tudor arched head and hood mould. The south side has a triple lancet matching those on the north side.

The chancel arch, of late 14th-century date, is triple cove and roll moulded, with cruciform responds and hood mould. A late 15th-century panelled timber screen with five bays stands across the chancel, restored with renewed cresting. To its left is a restored doorway, and above is a blocked opening leading to the rood loft, both restored. The chancel north side has to the west a window with stained glass of 1879, and to the east a 15th-century doorway with a 19th-century timber hood. The east end has a 19th-century panelled reredos and gradine and a window with stained glass of 1888. The south side has to the east a small chamfered 14th-century piscina and a window with 19th-century stained glass. To the west is a moulded arched opening to the Lexington Chapel with a restored late 15th-century parclose screen featuring panel tracery and restored cresting. The chancel has a 19th-century low-pitched principal rafter roof with arch braces on carved 19th-century corbels and moulded timbers.

South Chancel (Lexington) Chapel

The south chancel chapel, dating to around 1723, is two bays with a chamfered plinth, sill band, impost band and deep moulded cornice. The south side has two round-headed leaded casements with corniced keystones. Between them is a moulded square panel with a memorial tablet to Gervas Lock, late 18th century. The chapel has a sill and impost band, moulded cornice and plaster ceiling. To the east and west are paired round-headed niches with corniced keystones.

Fittings and Monuments

The church contains notable fittings. An octagonal timber pulpit has a 17th-century moulded stem and base with a 19th-century traceried panelled top and steps. A 13th-century eggcup font with roll moulded edge stands on a later round stem with moulded base and ring, topped by an early 19th-century conical cover with turned finials. A 19th-century traceried panelled lectern with octagonal stem is present. The church has 19th-century panelled benches, two 19th-century carved clergy desks, two matching choir stalls, and two 19th-century choir stalls with fleur de lys finials.

The monuments are of considerable importance. A free-standing marble tomb of Robert Sutton, Lord Lexington (died 1723), and Lady Lexington (died 1703), with two children, is in classical style. It comprises a rectangular chest with segmental ends, moulded plinth and base, and reeded vase-shaped corner pilasters. Inscribed panels appear on three sides, and to the west is a panel with the Arms. Above are single male and female reclining figures, life size, in Roman dress, he with a book and coronet, she with a ring. These figures were executed by William Palmer in 1726.

Additional monuments include: a painted ashlar wall monument with scroll top, moulded panel and hatchment, verse and inscription, dated 1763; a marble tablet of 1792; an Egyptian style slate and marble tablet of 1842; a 14th-century style marble and slate tablet with ogee head and crocketed surround by T. Gaffin, dated 1864; a marble and slate tablet of 1874; and an 18th-century Royal Arms in a moulded framed panel. Single brasses of 19th and 20th-century date are also present.