Church Of St Giles

Parish church of St Giles, dating from the 12th to 19th centuries. The church was substantially rebuilt in the chancel in 1844 and restored around 1890 by the architect Hodgson Fowler. It is constructed in ashlar with plain tile roofs.

The exterior is characterized by coped gables to the west nave and east chancel, with a decorative ridge cross to the east chancel. A single chimney stack rises from the south nave. The west bellcote, serving both nave and chancel, is gabled and coped and dates to the 19th century, featuring two arched openings for bells and a small arched and cusped opening above. The west wall has bands forming a pediment in the gable, with the lower part slightly projecting.

The principal west doorway is 12th-century, with two moulded orders of chevron, the inner supported on imposts and the outer on engaged columns with scalloped capitals. The hoodmould retains worn decoration with remains of decorative label stops. Above is a 19th-century arched and cusped light with hoodmould, and a small rectangular light in the gable apex.

The north nave, which has large buttresses, contains in its western bay a single small 12th-century arched light. A 16th-century window with two arched lights under a flat arch sits under the eaves to the left, below which is a 13th-century pointed arched light, with a 17th-century window further left containing three arched lights under a flat arch. The buttressed north chancel features a restored 14th-century arched window with two arched and cusped lights, mouchettes, quatrefoil and hoodmould. The east chancel has a 15th-century style window with four arched and cusped lights, with a small rectangular light in the apex.

The south chancel has two large buttresses, the right one inscribed "W.M.I.B.C.W. Anno 1639" and "? 1682". Between them is evidence of a former 14th-century pointed south aisle arch, now containing two blocked openings: the right with a 16th-century window of two arched lights under a flat arch, and the left arched. A wall to the east here, under the eaves, is inscribed "? C.B.T.F. Church Wardens 1687". The south nave, with a large buttress, shows evidence of a former 14th-century two-bay pointed arched arcade, both arches now containing single large tripartite casements with lead glazing bars. Above on the right is a 16th-century window with two arched lights under a flat arch, and a small 12th-century arched light on the far left.

The interior reveals a demolished south aisle with evidence of a two-bay arcade featuring double chamfered arches and moulded capitals. The south chancel contains an arched recess, originally a doorway, and to its left an arched and cusped piscina; the floor here has been heightened. A blocked doorway survives in the north nave. Some 18th-century panelling adorns the nave walls, and a late 18th-century panelled and painted reredos is present.

The ashlar font has an octagonal pedestal and shaped octagonal bowl. The 17th-century cover consists of eight open painted ribs forming ogee arches and terminating in an acanthus-decorated knob. 19th-century choir stalls and pews are installed throughout. A benefaction board in the north nave, dated 17 April 1895, details parish gifts. A painting, said to be by a nine-year-old boy, depicts the church with ashlar and red brick tower.