Church Of All Saints

The Church of All Saints is a parish church dating from the medieval period, with later additions. Constructed primarily of flint, it features ashlar and brick dressings, all set beneath slate roofs. The church comprises a tower at the western end of the south aisle, an aisled nave, and a chancel. Originally, the west wall of the nave aligned with the tower’s west wall.

The tower, dating to the 13th or 14th century, has one diagonal buttress, one facing south-east, and another to the north-west. A lancet window is set into the ground floor, while single quatrefoils appear at first-floor level to the east and south, and a flat-headed loop to the west. A carved gargoyle marks the former join with the nave roof. There are three original two-light Y-traceried bell openings, one three-light panel-traceried replacement to the east, and crenellated parapets. A vestry, dated 1906, is situated to the north of the tower. A blocked semicircular-headed north nave doorway from the 12th century is partially obscured by a lean-to boiler house.

The north aisle contains a blocked late-medieval doorway along with four two-light and one three-light 19th-century traceried windows in Perpendicular style. The easternmost bay is taller, having been heightened to accommodate an organ. The east window on this side is a complex reticulated design, created in the 14th century. The south aisle showcases four two-light 19th-century traceried windows in Perpendicular style, and the flat heads retain their original hood moulds with carved head label stops. The east window of the south aisle has a segmental head, also with original hood mould and stops. Two arched tomb recesses are present on the south wall, alongside a 19th-century porch. A late 13th or 14th-century doorway on the south side is adorned with carved decoration to the head. Eight two-light clearstorey windows, with flat heads and tracery, are distributed around the nave.

The chancel features two three-light panel-traceried windows and a moulded priest's doorway to the south. The fine five-light panel-traceried east window is a key feature. A single three-light window is located to the north, accompanied by a diagonally set marble plaque commemorating Sarah Tyssen of Narborough Hall (died 1814).

Inside, the tower arch is hollow-chamfered, formed of two orders and without responds. The north arcade, dating from the 14th century, is comprised of three bays with quatrefoil piers, filletted intermediate rolls, and facetted capitals and bases. The wave-moulded arches are of two orders. There is no chancel arch. The south arcade, likely from the 15th century, features four bays on octagonal piers, with every other facet of each pier concave, except for the westernmost pier and respond. The hollow-chamfered arches are also of two orders. The interior holds a collection of fine monuments primarily belonging to the Spelman family, including late medieval brasses, a heart tomb with a bust effigy, a large Jacobean monument in memory of Clement and Ursula Spilman featuring full-size effigies, a monument to Clement Spilman (1679) featuring a standing statue in coloured marble, and a wall tablet marking the passing of John Spelman (1662).