Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints

This is a parish church of the early 14th century, possibly of earlier origin, comprising a chancel, nave, north tower, and south aisle. A 16th-century north chapel, known as the Tylney Chapel, was added, and a south porch of probable 15th or 16th-century date may have been rebuilt using medieval material.

The exterior is constructed largely of flint rubble, now plastered over most of the building, with the north tower of flint and ashlar bearing red brick crenellations. The Tylney Chapel is built of 16th-century red brick. Red plain tiled roofs cover most of the structure, except the south porch which has a lead lean-to roof.

The chancel contains an east window of three cinquefoiled two-centred arched lights with vertical tracery above and a moulded segmental head with label. The south wall features a moulded two-centred arched label with a blocked window, and a chamfered round-headed doorway to the west with a plank and muntin door. The north wall has no windows.

The Tylney Chapel has a northern gable with a blocked brick window with chamfered four-centred head and label. Below it are two two-light windows with similar heads and labels featuring head stops. Between these windows is a stone panel carved with the Tylney Coat of Arms. The east return wall contains a similar three-light window with a label bearing head stops. Polygonal angle pilasters frame the chapel.

The nave's north wall, adjacent to the Tylney Chapel, has a window of four trefoiled lights with a moulded square head and label. The west wall has a two-centred arched window of two lights with Y tracery and a label above.

The south aisle is buttressed at its angles. Its south wall contains two windows: to the east, a three-light window with trefoiled lights, moulded segmental head, and label; to the west, a three-light window with two-centred arched lights, tracery, two-centred head, and label with stylised head stops. The west wall has a metal window of three lights with a transom and chamfered brick two-centred head.

The south porch is gabled and timber-framed on a dwarf brick wall. It comprises two bays with braces to tie beams and collars to each rafter pair. Two mullion slots appear to each wall of the south bay. The top plate has a halved and bridled scarf joint. The floor is of 19th-century tile. The south doorway features a 14th-century sunk chamfered and moulded two-centred arch with a label bearing stops, and is fitted with nailed plank and muntin double doors.

The north tower stands in three stages, buttressed at its northern angles, with bands to the first stage and above the bell chamber. Red brick crenellations crown it. Each face of the bell chamber contains a louvred cinquefoiled light with a moulded two-centred head and label. Clock faces occupy the north, east, and west faces below these windows. Flanking the northern clock face to north and south are four heavy moulded circular tie plates. Below the northern clock is a cinquefoiled light with a moulded two-centred head and label. The north doorway is blocked but retains a four-board door set within a two-centred head of three moulded orders, with a moulded label bearing head stops.

Interior

The chancel has a boarded and ribbed roof of five cants with moulded wall plates, and a 19th-century coloured tiled floor. Moulded wood altar rails stand before the altar. The south wall features a piscina with a chamfered two-centred head and two drains, one circular and one octagonal. Adjacent is a low-cill blocked arch with chamfered segmental head, followed to the west by a doorway with a similar head and another blocked window with a chamfered two-centred head. The north wall contains a tomb chest with three panels, each displaying cusped and sub-cusped moulded four-centred heads, moulded capitals and bases to three attached shafts, and coats of arms to each pane. Above are three shields of arms, the central one larger and embellished. The entrance to the Tylney Chapel is recessed, with walls and ceiling entirely panelled. A wall monument of 1866 commemorates the Norman Family. Choir stalls feature carved poppy heads, panelled fronts, and winged griffons holding shields. There is no chancel arch.

The nave has a boarded and ribbed roof of five cants with moulded wall plates, and a yellow brick herringbone floor. A wooden linefold-panelled octagonal pulpit with an octagonal stem and moulded capital stands here. The north wall contains a chest tomb with a square base and columns supporting the top slab, which has a moulded cornice and rim. The front panel bears an embellished inscription and side roundels. A fine recumbent praying figure in dress with neck ruff, head on pillow, and stumps of columns at angles is depicted. The inscription reads: "This tombe was made by Philip Tylney Esq, In remembrance of his dere mother Dame Margaret, The wife of Frederick Tylney who had issue by her. This Tylney who died without issue and the above named Philip Tylney who by Ann daughter of Framlingham of Debenham had issue Charles who died with issue, his father living 1598." Two hatchments adorn the north wall. A 20th-century octagonal font and stem stands in the nave. The south arcade comprises four bays with octagonal columns, moulded capitals and bases, and chamfered two-centred arches. Two hatchments hang in the south aisle.

The Tylney Chapel is believed to have been built circa 1530 by Sir Philip Tylney (died 1533), who rebuilt Shelley Hall. It has a herringbone brick floor with five floor slabs in two rows of three and two. The central slab of the group of three is blank. To its left lies Dame Mary Lumby, relict of Sir Martin Lumby, Knight, sometime Lord Mayor of London (died 13 June 1650); to its right lies Thomas Kerridge, Lord of the Manor (died 20 June 1657), both with coats of arms. The two lower slabs are to the left of Samuel Kerridge, Lord of the Manor, and Susan his wife (died 13 November 1678), and to the right of John Kerridge (died 3 September 1661, aged 18), all with coats of arms. Fastened high to the west wall is a long arm supported by a metal brace, whose purpose is unknown. A panelled dado, some with linefold and coat of arms panels, runs along the walls. A fine large square stone panel carved with the Tylney arms, circa 1540–50, adorns the north wall. The east wall contains two niches with square heads; the northern niche has a moulded soffit to its shelf. A small 19th-century cast iron stove stands here. Boards displaying the Exodus, Creed, and Lord's Prayer occupy the west wall. The church is said to contain five bells cast at Bury St Edmunds between 1650 and 1747.