Church Of All Saints

The Church of All Saints is a parish church consisting of a late 13th-century west tower, a nave constructed in 1879-80, and a chancel built in 1892-3, all designed by Henry Curzon. The church is built of rubblestone with machine-tiled roofs and oak shingles to the spire. It comprises a nave and chancel under one roof, a west tower with a spire, a south porch, and an organ chamber to the north of the chancel.

The late 13th-century tower has a pronounced batter and massive walls, with narrow rectangular slits featuring rough shouldered scoops on the north, south, and west faces. A thin string course is located at the belfry stage, and weathered trefoil-headed apertures are above. The broached spire, topped with a weathercock, was added in 1880. The nave, with four bays, has single lancet windows and paired cusped windows. The continuous chancel, spanning two bays, has broad cinquefoil-headed windows to the north and south. The east window is of triple lancets, united by a continuous hoodmould with sunken quatrefoil panels. A gable, lit by three cinquefoil-headed windows, protrudes through the roof slope above the lean-to organ chamber on the north side.

The timber south porch, built in 1880 on low stone walls, covers the principal south door. The door is nail-studded, featuring two strap hinges that terminate in fleur-de-lys points across its width, possibly dating to the 17th century. The doorframe itself is likely 18th century, with 18th-century panelling above.

Inside, the tower arch probably dates to the early 14th century. The late 19th-century panelled roof incorporates some old timbering, and an old beam above the chancel screen is visible where the roof takes the form of a cellular structure. The chancel screen, along with a built-in pulpit, and other fittings are all late 19th century, although some earlier wooden panelling may be reused. The octagonal font, possibly from the early 14th century, has a rosette inside a circle on one side and retains its original square stem and raised circular plinth. Late 19th-century stained glass is in the east window, while a 17th-century oak chest and an 18th-century coat of arms are within the tower. A small brass plate on the north wall of the nave commemorates Mrs Mary Betton (died 1763).

Historically, Norbury was a dependent chapelry of Lydbury North until 1894. Records dating from 1521 show the church was originally dedicated to St Ethelbert.