Parish Church Of All Saints

TL 1048 COPLE GRACE LANE

4/33 Parish Church of All 13.7.64 Saints

GV I

Parish church. Circa 1430, C16 and C18. Courses rubble (mainly limestone), ironstone tower, ashlar dressings. Chancel, N and S chapels, nave, N and S aisles, S porch, W tower. Plain parapets to S chapel and aisle, embattled parapets elsewhere. Chancel: C15. 4-light E window. Arcades of 2 4-centred arches each side, that to S taller. Chancel arch similar to nave arcades. N chapel: C16. 3-light E window contains some C15 work. 2 3-light N windows. S chapel: C16. Windows, one to E, 2 to S, reworked C19. Archway to S aisle similar to those to chancel. Nave: C15. 3-bay arcades both sides. Clerestory with 3 square-headed 2-light windows each side. N aisle: C15, windows reworked C19. N doorway re-uses some C14 work. S aisle: C15, windows reworked C19. Extends westward, forming vestry S of tower, lit by 2-light window. S porch: C18, altered early C20. 5-light windows each side. W tower: C15. 3 stages, with diagonal buttresses, and octagonal stair turret to NE corner. Pointed-arched W doorway surmounted by pointed-arched 3-light window. C19 parapet and belfry windows. Interior: 2 altar-tombs to chancel, one to Walter Luke, 1544, and wife Anne Launcelyn, 1538, the brass retaining traces of inlaid colour, other of C16 with brasses to Thomas Grey and Benet (Launcelyn) his wife, and their sons and daughters. Chancel floor has brass to John Launcelyn and wife Margaret, 1435, reusing C14 brass (F.W. Kuhlicke, "A Palimpsest Brass at Cople", Beds Arch. Journal, vol 7, 1972, pp.87-88). Other C15 and C16 brasses in N and S chapels. Angel corbels bearing shields (Grey and Launcelyn) to chapel arcades. C20 chancel roof, others C15. Choir stalls retain 4 late C15 poppy-heads and 2 old linenfold panels. Late C16 pewing. 3 central bays of 5-bay rood screen are late C15.

Listing NGR: TL1032348469