Parish Church Of All Saints

The parish church of All Saints in Morborne is a building of considerable historical interest, with origins dating back to the 12th century. Key elements include a 12th-century chancel arch and nave, a chancel built in the mid-13th century, a north aisle around 1240, and a south transept and south aisle constructed between 1250 and 1260. The aisle walls were likely rebuilt in the 16th century, and a west tower and north porch were added at a later date. The church underwent restoration in 1864 and 1900-1901, carried out by Thompson and Son builders, with the eastern part of the south wall of the chancel being rebuilt during this time.

The church is constructed of coursed limestone and pebble rubble with dressings of Barnack and Ketton stone, with the tower built of red brick featuring rubbed brick details and ashlar buttresses. The roofs are covered in Collyweston stone slates.

The south elevation features a two-stage west tower with an embattled parapet and small pinnacles at the corners. The belfry window comprises two three-centred lights within a square head with a moulded label. A 17th-century sundial is also present. The nave has parapet gables, and the south aisle contains a 16th-century window with a single round-headed light. A reset south doorway, dating back to around 1200, has a two-centred head of two orders: the outer order is plain with shafted jambs and water-leaf capitals, while the inner order is chamfered and continuous. The south transept incorporates a 13th-century window with three lancet-lights within a segmental head and moulded label. The chancel windows, dating around 1250, have one or two lancet-lights, with a round light above.

Inside, the nave arcades consist of three bays; the north arcade, dating to around 1240, has two-centred arches with two chamfered orders, round columns with moulded capitals and bases on square plinths with spurs, and a chamfered label on the south side featuring rosette, head, and mask stops. The south arcade, dating to around 1250, is similar to the north arcade but with nail-head ornament to the capitals. The tower arch was originally the west window of the nave and has been cut down. The chancel arch, dating to the 12th century, is two-centred with two roll-moulded orders, the inner order having two rolls, and the outer order comprising a roll and band of diaper patterning. Shafted jambs correspond with the orders, leading up to moulded cushion capitals with cable ornament and abaci, and bases with a flat zig-zag ornament. A piscina and sedilia are located in the chancel, featuring moulded jambs, a pointed segmental head with foliate and head stops, a double piscina with moulded jambs, a central shaft with two-centred heads containing carved flower-bosses, and spandrel carvings of fleur-de-lis and rosettes. Above are three niches with pointed heads. The sedilia has a plain seat. A 13th-century round font sits on a modern stem and base; an earlier 12th-century font is located in the south transept. A monument depicting a priest in relief, wearing mass-vestments, dates to the 13th century. There are also memorials in the south aisle to Thomas Woods (1700) and a floor slab in the north aisle to the wife of Thomas Butler (1680). Further monuments and floor slabs are documented in the Victoria County History and the Royal Commission on Historical Monuments.