Catholic Church Of St Francis Of Assisi

The Roman Catholic Church of St Francis of Assisi was designed by S J Nicholl of Kentish Town and built in 1884, funded by Mrs Lyne-Stephens of Lynsford Hall, Thetford, Norfolk. It is constructed of red brick with ashlar dressings, and has clay tile roofs. The church is oriented north-south, with the altar at the south end. The overall plan is rectangular, incorporating a nave and chancel. The chancel has narrow aisles created by two-bay arcades incorporated within its structure. The design is in the 14th century style. The north gable, facing the road, features a large pointed-arch window with cusped flowing and panel tracery, along with a three-light ogee window at the apex. Stone coping tops the gable, finished with a crucifix finial. A slightly projecting, three-stage bell cote is to the left. A pointed-arch doorway is recessed within a taller pointed archway with traceried spandrels. A canopied niche above the doorway contains a figure of St Francis, flanked by single lights. The upper stage of the bell cote is largely in ashlar and features an ogee-headed niche with a statue of the Virgin and Child. Windows to the west and east sides are of similar design. The chancel has windows to the west and east, also in a similar style but with four-centred arched heads. The pointed-arched arcades have slender columns.

The interior features an approximately 9-metre-high reredos, in an ornate High Gothic style. It is constructed of carved stone including alabaster and marble, and has figures of saints within crocketed canopied niches. The arcades have foliate capitals. The nave incorporates half-height cedarwood panelling with carved and painted Stations of the Cross inset at intervals. A carved stone pulpit stands in the southeast corner of the nave, also in High Gothic style. A carved stone Lady Altar, with a partly gilded Virgin and Child, is located in the southwest corner of the nave. Stained glass is present in the Lady Altar window, as well as in the west and east nave windows. An octagonal font with a crocketed wooden spire cover is located northeast of the nave. The nave and chancel have wagon roofs; the timberwork to the nave is plain and open, while the chancel's timberwork is infilled with painted and gilded angels and bosses. A gallery is positioned at the north end of the nave.