Parish Church Of All Saints

The parish church of All Saints is a building with a long history, incorporating elements from the 12th century to the 19th century. The base of the chancel arch dates back to around 1120, while the chancel, north and south aisles, and nave were largely rebuilt in approximately 1300. The west tower and spire were originally constructed in the early 14th century but were reconstructed in the late 15th or early 16th century, when a clerestory was added. A south porch was built around 1340.

The tower is of three stages, featuring angle buttresses and a moulded plinth. It has 16th-century windows with four-centred arches. The broach spire has two tiers of spire lights with trefoiled openings and gable tracery. The nave has a low-pitched roof. The clerestory features three, three-light windows with four-centred arches, and similar arches define the three, three-light aisle windows. The south porch has a hipped roof and side windows with trefoiled ogee lights in square heads; its two-centred arch is moulded with stops. A late 18th-century entrance replaces a circa 1300 south doorway, which has a richly moulded two-centred arch and shafted jambs with moulded caps. The chancel roof is steeply pitched, and the south wall includes 13th and 14th-century windows and a 13th-century doorway.

Inside, the chancel east window is modern. A double piscina from the 13th century has trefoiled heads. The circa 1300 chancel arch has attached shafts and moulded bases, resting on the wall of the original 12th-century church, with a chamfered impost on the north side. The north and south arcades, dating back to around 1300, feature four bays with two-centred arches, moulded labels, and head stops. The piers have octagonal columns with moulded capitals and bases. The nave roof is largely modern, with carved figures of angels on the tie beams; two original wall posts feature carvings of the Apostles. Wall paintings include a Doom painting over the chancel arch, depictions of the expulsion of Adam and Eve on the south nave wall, and other fragments. Pews are likely from the 16th century, the communion table is from the 18th century, and the altar rails have turned balusters. The font is large and square with blind arcading, dating back to around 1200. A small piece of early 16th-century glass is found in a south aisle window. A road screen, carved by the local carpenter and builder George Allpress with figures from Oberammersau, was donated by Rev Pinhey between 1900 and 1921. The pulpit, designed by Rev George Johnston in 1890, was carved by villagers. A parish library is located in the belfry room. A collection of books, gathered and donated by Rev Torkington (died 1737) and Rev R Hodson (rector 1717-1774), was recently sold to Cambridge University; a case now holds items of local interest from that collection.