Church Of St Giles

Church of St Giles

Parish church comprising work from the mid 13th century through the 16th century, substantially restored in 1872 by T. C. Hine. Further extensions and rebuilding were undertaken by Naylor and Sale in 1896 and 1911.

The building is constructed of coursed rubble with dressed stone and ashlar, featuring lead and plain tile gabled and lean-to roofs. Architectural detailing includes partial chamfered and moulded plinths, moulded string courses, sill bands, coped and crenellated parapets with pinnacles, coped gables with crosses, and moulded eaves bands with gargoyles.

The plan comprises a west tower, nave, chancel, north porch, north aisle, vestry, north transept, inner and outer south aisles, and south porch.

The west tower dates to the 15th century and is a single stage with moulded eaves and two gargoyles to north and south. The west face has two diagonal buttresses below. The south side contains an inscribed stone above, whilst the west side displays a restored triple lancet with panel tracery. The north-west corner has a doorway, and each side above has a double lancet in round-headed reveal.

The nave extends for six bays, extended in 1898, with six double lancets on each side having Tudor arched heads, the easternmost pair being 19th-century work. The west end has a 19th-century quadruple lancet with reticulated tracery and hood mould, flanked by single similar lancets.

The chancel dates to 1896 and runs under a continuous roof for three bays. The east end has a pair of diagonal buttresses and bears a tablet inscribed "This foundation stone was laid by The Lady Byron (Thrumpton Hall) October 18th. AD 1896. 'ipc lapis aduitori'." Above this is a seven-light Decorated style lancet with flowing tracery and hood mould.

The north porch has two diagonal buttresses, a moulded doorway and canopied niche. Its west side features a double lancet.

The buttressed north aisle comprises five bays with a canted east end. Windows are 15th-century style lancets with Decorated tracery: the north side has two double lancets to the east and two quadruple lancets to the west. An off-centre crested panel displays the Royal Arms and an inscription reading "To the Glory of God this stone was laid by Mrs. Heymann. Richard Hargreaves M.A. Rector. W. J. Furse, J.P., W. H. Tonkin, Churchwardens. June 22nd 1911." The east end has three double lancets.

The vestry extends two bays, with three 16th-century style lancets on its west side and a doorway to their right. The north end has two single lancets.

The north transept has a gabled buttress to the north and a quadruple and triple lancet with restored flowing tracery and hood moulds. Its east side has a double lancet.

The former nave and chancel, now forming the inner south aisle, comprises seven bays under a continuous roof. The east end has two restored triple lancets of mid-14th-century date with flowing tracery and hood moulds, above which sits a restored spherical triangle window with flowing tracery. The south side contains, to the right, an additional buttress and a chamfered priest's door of mid-13th-century date with hood mould, flanked by a double and triple 16th-century lancet with hood moulds and mask stops. Above these are six cusped double lancets dating to around 1500 with triangular heads.

The former south aisle, now the outer south aisle, comprises four bays with a small buttress at each end. The east end has a restored 14th-century triple lancet with flowing tracery and hood mould. The south side has a central porch flanked by single 19th-century triple lancets. The west end has a 13th-century lancet.

The south porch dates to the 13th century and was rebuilt in the late 19th century. Its south face has a moulded doorway with hood mould, above which is a blank opening. The east side has a re-set squint, and the west side has a small light. The interior features stone benches and a panelled ceiling, with an inner south doorway of 13th-century date.

The tower arch is 15th-century work, chamfered and rebated, and has a 20th-century ringing gallery.

The nave north and south arcades comprise three bays with octagonal piers featuring moulded bases and capitals, chamfered and moulded arches, and a low-pitched roof with mask corbels and arch braces. The west window contains stained glass from 1938.

The chancel arch has wall shafts and hood mould with angel stops. A coped screen wall with iron railing and central gates containing text runs across the chancel. The north side has two openings with 20th-century traceried oak screens, the right-hand example containing text. The east end displays a panelled timber reredos dating to 1896 and 1963, and the east window contains stained glass of approximately 1920. The south side has a cusped ogee-headed piscina to the east, above which is a window with stained glass of 1907. The roof is low-pitched with arch braces.

The north aisle has a 20th-century glazed screen to the west. Its north side has a central window with stained glass by Whitefriars Studio from 1971. To the east are two doors with segmental heads. The roof is low-pitched with arch braces.

A chapel to the east of the north aisle has a central arch flanked by two smaller arches with wrought-iron grilles. Its north side contains, to the east, a restored 14th-century cusped tomb recess with finial housing a re-sited late 13th-century effigy, said to represent Sir Robert de Luttrell. Above is a window with stained glass from 1913. The east end has a reredos and three stained-glass windows dating to 1945, 1946, and 1953, probably by Powell of Whitefriars. The roof is low-pitched with arch braces.

The inner south aisle arcade comprises four bays of 14th-century date, with three octagonal piers featuring moulded bases and capitals, double chamfered and rebated arches, and two mask imposts. The east end has a cusped ogee panelled screen of approximately 1380, restored in 1871 and 1931, and a restored 14th-century arch with two beast mask corbels. A 19th-century opening to the east has an oak screen of 1922. The east end displays three windows with 19th-century stained glass. The south side has, to the east, a square piscina and aumbry of mid-13th-century date. To its right is an ogee-headed double sedilia with traceried spandrels dating to mid-14th century. The easternmost window contains stained glass of 1919, whilst the westernmost window has stained glass from 1901 by Heaton Butler and Bayne. The clerestorey has six late 19th-century stained-glass windows. The roof is a restored late 14th-century example with mask corbels and carved bosses.

The south aisle has an east window with stained glass similar to that in the inner south aisle's south side east window, this being by Taylor and Clifton. Its south side has a 14th-century aumbry and piscina to the east. The westernmost and west-end windows contain late 19th-century stained glass. The roof is a restored 15th-century lean-to structure.

The octagonal font is 15th-century work. A panelled octagonal pulpit dates to 1948 and was designed by Sir Charles Nicholson. A brass eagle lectern was installed in 1898. The church contains 19th-century cross-frame benches, traceried panelled stalls and desks of approximately 1920, and two carved panel-back armchairs of early 18th-century date.

Monuments include eight 20th-century brasses and a brass to the Waters family dating from 1867 to 1895. A panelled alabaster and slate war memorial commemorates 1918.