Church Of St Giles

Church of St Giles

Parish church of the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries, partly restored between 1873 and 1876 by Ewan Christian. The church is constructed of coursed rubble dressed stone and ashlar, with plain and interlocking tile and slate roofs.

The plan comprises a west tower, nave with clerestory, south aisle and south chancel chapel, chancel, and vestry.

West Tower

The west tower dates to circa 1427 and rises in four stages. It has a chamfered plinth, four string courses, an eaves band with six gargoyles, and a crenellated parapet. A full-height stair turret is positioned at the north-east corner.

The first stage contains a splayed doorway to the west with a hood mould and mask stops, and a stair light to the north. The second stage has a 15th-century triple lancet to the west with cusped ogee heads, a splayed mullion, chamfered and rebated reveal, and hood mould, with a stair light to the north. The third stage features a cusped-head lancet to the west in a splayed and rebated square-headed reveal with hood mould, and stair lights to the north. The fourth stage contains four 15th-century cusped-head double lancets with Perpendicular tracery, coved mullions, coved and splayed reveal, and hood mould.

Nave

The nave comprises three bays and has a chamfered rendered plinth to the north, a coved eaves band and moulded coping. The east gable is coped. To the east is a large irregular buttress with two setoffs and plinth. The west side has two restored 14th-century double lancets with cusped ogee heads and Decorated tracery, splayed mullions and reveals. Above these are three 15th-century double lancets with chamfered and rebated square-headed reveals. Three similar clerestory windows are placed on the south side.

South Aisle and South Chancel Chapel

The south aisle and south chancel chapel form a continuous range of three plus two bays. Both have a chamfered plinth and three coped gables. The chapel has two buttresses to the south, each with two setoffs. At the east end is a 13th-century triple lancet with intersecting tracery, splayed mullion and reveal. The chapel's south side has a 13th-century restored double lancet with splayed mullion and reveal to the west, and a 19th-century doorway in 13th-century style with shafts and a hood mould with foliate stops to the east. The south aisle's west side has a 13th-century chamfered and rebated doorway with flanking shafts with plain base and capitals, and a hood mould. To the east are two restored 14th-century double lancets with cusped ogee heads, Decorated tracery, splayed mullions and reveals. The west end has a 14th-century lancet with a cusped ogee head and chamfered reveal.

Chancel

The chancel comprises two bays with a coped east gable with kneelers and cross. The north side has two 13th-century double lancets with Y tracery, splayed mullions, chamfered reveals, and hood moulds with mask stops to the west. To the east is a blocked 15th-century aumbry with a triangular head and, adjacent to it, a blocked doorway. The east end has a restored five-light lancet of the 14th century with cusped flowing tracery, coved mullions, chamfered and rebated reveal, and hood mould. The south side has a 14th-century triple lancet with cusped ogee heads, flowing tracery, coved mullion, chamfered and rebated surround, and hood mould with mask stops to the east.

Vestry

The vestry is of the 19th century, with a chamfered plinth and slate lean-to roof. It retains remains of a pair of gargoyles. Single 13th-century style lancets in chamfered reveals are positioned to the north and west, and a chamfered doorway with hood mould to the east.

Interior Features

The south arcade is of the 13th century with two round piers with water-holding bases and plain octagonal capitals, circa 1873, along with two half-round responds and double chamfered and rebated arches. The nave contains a re-set corbel in the north wall. The roof is of the 15th century, restored in the 19th century, with a low pitch, heavily moulded ridge and purlins, moulded cambered tie beams, and additional 19th-century tie beams on large chamfered corbels. The roof features foliate bosses.

The tower arch is of the 14th century, with double chamfered and rebated moulding and half-octagon responds with plain bases and capitals. The tower chamber has a door with a four-centred arched head to the north. The south aisle has a west window with 19th-century stained glass and a plain 19th-century lean-to roof on earlier chamfered corbels.

The chancel arch is of the 19th century in 13th-century style, with double chamfered and rebated moulding, half-round responds with plain bases and capitals, and a hood mould with mask stops. A wrought iron screen of 1881 has central gates. The north side of the chancel has a blocked 14th-century doorway with an ogee head and a window with fragments of 15th-century stained glass. The east window has the remains of a moulded niche in the left reveal and a panel of stained glass of circa 1874. A 20th-century stone altar, gradine and tabernacle are present. The south side has a small chamfered 13th-century piscina and a restored 14th-century piscina with a moulded surround and bowl to the east, and a two-bay arcade to the chapel to the west, of the 14th century. The arcade has a central octagonal pier with a moulded octagonal base and capital, partly restored, and half-round filleted responds with moulded capitals and plain double chamfered and rebated arches. A 19th-century principal rafter roof with collars and arch braces rises from corbels.

The south chancel chapel has a half-segmental arch and a re-set corbel to the south, with a plain 19th-century lean-to roof with struts on chamfered corbels.

Fittings and Monuments

Fittings include a 19th-century font with a chamfered square base, round stem with four minor marble shafts, and a large chamfered square bowl with inscribed panels. An elaborate 19th-century wrought iron lectern is present. Plain panelled 19th-century benches, pierced and arcaded 19th-century stalls and desks with fleur-de-lys finials, and a wrought iron altar rail of 1881 are in place. A 18th-century four-legged stool with turned legs and a small 19th-century organ complete the furnishings.

Monuments include a Classical tablet with reeded pilasters, plain marble tablets of 1827 and 1832, a brass with Latin inscription of 1728, a brass of 1827, a marble and brass tablet of 1871, a brass of 1881, a tile and alabaster tablet of 1911, and a brass of 1967.