Church Of St Margaret

Church of St Margaret

Church. Built in the mid-14th century, with a bell stage added in the early 16th century and a major restoration undertaken in 1910. The building is constructed of coursed ashlar with some flint and brick, roofed in slate.

The plan comprises a west steeple, nave with north vestry, and chancel with a north organ chamber.

The exterior features a two-stage tower supported by a heavy diagonal buttress at the south-west corner with four brick-capped set-offs. The west side displays a semi-circular relieving arch. A cinquefoiled lancet under a square hoodmould with label stops is positioned on the tower. A small slit light to the staircase sits to the lower right. At ringing chamber stage there is a set-off, with one trefoiled lancet to each face of the ringing chamber except the east, all under square hoodmoulds with label stops. The bell stage is square timber-framed and shingled, developing into a broached octagonal timber spire, also with shingle cladding.

The south nave has four stepped side buttresses, each with two set-offs clad with plain tiles. In the first bay from the west is a timber-framed south porch of 1910 on an ashlar and flint plinth with a gabled plain-tiled roof. The two remaining bays each contain one 3-light cinquefoiled window under square hoodmoulds with label stops. The north nave has a 19th-century lean-to vestry to the west with brick banding. One blocked 2-light cusped window faces east and west within square surrounds. The body of the nave has one side buttress, separating two 2-light trefoiled windows under square hoods with label stops.

North and south of the chancel each have one 2-light window of 1910. A 3-light arched chancel east window dates to 1910. The north chancel has a lean-to vestry to the west, lit through one east lancet.

The interior displays a double wave moulded tower arch. An early 16th-century timber frame for the steeple was inserted within the existing fabric, consisting of four heavy square posts (one reused) with a heavy middle rail. Above the middle rail are cross-braced timber strainers to all except the south side. The nave and chancel are distinguished by a heavier roof rib. The roof takes the form of a canted and boarded barrel roof with moulded transverse ribs, one tier of purlins, and a ridge piece. The eastern two bays over the altar are elaborated with cusped and decorated cross braces to each compartment.

The north vestry door has external double wave mouldings. A plain octagonal font, moulded under the bowl, survives; above it is a 17th-century timber pyramid font cover. A plank and muntin tower screen dates to 1910. Nave pews are dated 1929-31. The chancel screen of 1926 was designed by Sir Charles Nicholson and comprises four bays right and left of a central opening, with a panelled dado. Double-leaf gates with rectangular verticals are set between heavy section rectangular uprights which rise to the rood beam. A cambered rail with solid 4-centred braces is topped by three cusped open panels; the centre panel features a sculpted Crucifixion scene. Side bays have rectangular stiles. A statue of the Virgin Mary stands to the south of the screen on a corbelled pedestal. Attached twin stalls to the east of the screen are part of the 1926 scheme, as are the remainder of the chancel stalls. A 1926 open timber screen stands in front of the organ in the north chamber. An timber altar rail with six plus six bays featuring Flamboyant traceried heads is dated 1941.

A brass to Sir John Giffard, possibly dating to 1348 and of Flemish origin, depicts a full-sized figure in military dress with uncrossed legs bearing a shield with six fleurs-de-lys (the head and lower part of the right leg are lost). It lies on the north-east chancel floor.

A hexagonal pulpit from Harrow School chapel, probably made in 1857 and presented here in 1924, features polygonal angle shafts with stiff-leaf capitals and panels with linenfold panelling. A gilded wooden eagle lectern is also present. A wall monument to Frederick Harwood, died 1836, on the nave south wall comprises a square plaster panel depicting the Virgin and Child. Fourteen early 19th-century plaster Stations of the Cross with three-dimensional figures are displayed throughout the church.