Church Of St Andrew

A parish church at Ashingdon, mainly dating from the 14th century but possibly of earlier origin, with some 16th-century brickwork and later 19th and 20th-century restorations. The church is said to occupy the site of a church built by King Canute in 1020 to commemorate his victory over Edmund Ironside at the Battle of Assandune in 1016.

The building consists of a 14th-century chancel and nave, a 19th-century north vestry, a 14th-century or earlier west tower, and a 16th-century south porch. The walls are constructed of ragstone and flint rubble with Roman tile and septaria, with 16th and 20th-century brick repairs. The roofs are covered in red plain tiles, with the west tower roof hipped and featuring gablets.

The chancel has an east wall of 16th-century red brick with black diapering and angle buttresses. A 19th or 20th-century three-light cinquefoiled window with a 2-centred arch and label occupies the east wall. The north wall has centre and angle buttresses, with a 16th-century red brick window of two 4-centred lights with square head and label towards the west. The south wall is buttressed at the angle and contains an eastern 15th-century window of two cinquefoiled lights with square head and moulded label, and a western 14th-century low side window with chamfered 2-centred arch.

The nave's north wall is buttressed at the angles and features 14th-century windows of two 2-centred arched lights. To the west of this window is the north vestry outshot, which has a window of two cinquefoiled lights under a square head in its eastern wall and a similar single light window in its western wall. The south wall has red brick repairs at its eastern end and a 20th-century timber 2-light window under a segmental head. A central buttress displays a scratch dial. A 14th-century south doorway with moulded jambs, 2-centred arch and label leads into the nave; it retains its vertically boarded door with strap hinges.

The south porch dates from the early 16th century and is timber-framed. It features bargeboards and a finial to the gable. The porch is of two bays with a heavy arch-braced cambered tie beam, the braces each bearing three face pegs. Collars support each rafter pair, with later through-bracing to the walls. The chamfered wall posts and wall plates support a flat 3-centred outer archway. A restored king post with base struts to collars rests above the lintel on a 20th-century dwarf brick wall which supports timber side benches. The initials EHFR/AWC are carved on the gable.

The west tower has three stages and is buttressed to the second stage. The north, west and south faces of the bell chamber each feature a window of two cinquefoiled lights with 2-centred heads; traces of labels remain much worn, and a small blocked window exists in the east face. The south wall displays a clock face inscribed with "Edwardus Rex VII" in place of numerals, with "ADMCMX" below. A band runs below the clock. The ground floor of the south face has a small rectangular window with moulded plinth. The tower was restored in 1937.

Internally, the chancel has a 16th-century roof of two plastered bays with chamfered arched braces to collars and moulded wall plates. A tie beam spans the western bay, and shields of arms decorate the wall posts. Stained glass windows occupy the east, north and south-west openings. A Danish flag, presented by HRH Prince Georg of Denmark in memory of his ancestor King Canute and the restoration of the church in 1951, is displayed in the chancel. The floor is 20th-century stone throughout. A 14th-century piscina with chamfered 2-centred arch and cut-back drain slab survives. The chancel arch has been removed except for the north wall respond, which is of trefoil plan with moulded capital and base. A 20th-century panelled reredos and dado have been installed.

The nave retains a 14th or 15th-century seven cant cross quadrate crown post roof of two bays. Moulded tie beams are supported by stop-chamfered storey posts to the north wall, each with chamfered arched braces to the tie beam. A 14th-century north doorway with moulded jambs, 2-centred arch and label opens from the nave. A piscina on the north wall features a chamfered and trefoiled 2-centred arch with octofoiled drain. Four stained glass quarries remain in the south window. An oak diptych on the cill of the north wall window, said to date from the 18th century, depicts King Canute: the left panel shows him driving back the waves, and the right panel shows him laying his crown upon an altar. This diptych is the gift of Mr H. Ryeclausen of Copenhagen. A Royal Coat of Arms dated 1685 on its reverse hangs over the north doorway. A 16th-century octagonal font with concave faces, moulded soffit, plain stem and moulded base stands in the nave. An oval plaque on the north wall depicts the Journey into Egypt. A small doorway with chamfered 2-centred arch provides access to the west tower.