Church Of St Andrew

Church of St Andrew

A parish church of Norman (12th century) and 14th century date, built of rubble flint and freestone. The building comprises a nave, chancel, south aisle, north porch and south-west tower. The roof is thatched over the nave, with plain tiles over the aisle and chancel, which stands slightly higher than the nave.

The church has a complex developmental history. The south aisle was originally the nave of the 12th century Norman church, which once had an apsidal chancel attached to it. The west front of this original church survives within the base of the tower, which was added in the early 14th century. The tower features flushwork panelling on the lower stages of its diagonal buttresses and on the battlemented top, which is said to have been raised in the 17th century.

The 12th century west portal is lavishly decorated with 4 orders of colonettes variously ornamented with billet moulding, stylised flowers and an outer incomplete ring of beasts. Above it sits a small window set within an arch and flanked by 2 blank arches, all decorated with zigzag ornament; the window is surrounded also by a chain of raised circular members.

The south aisle features 2-light Perpendicular windows to its south side and a Norman south doorway with one order of colonettes, block or cushion capitals, scalloped decoration and an outer billet moulding around the jambs and arch. The aisle roof comprises 9 bays with no collars but with long arched braces tenoned into hanging posts carrying carved bosses; an embattled and floral cornice with an upper row of fleur-de-lys ornament runs along the top. Remains of wall-paintings in red ochre survive on the south wall, along with a set of Royal Arms of George III. In the south-east corner sits the damaged altar tomb of Nicholas Bohun (died 1602), with a genealogical brass above.

The 14th century north porch is faced with flushwork and has a 2-bay open timber roof. The north doorway features a continuous moulding under a hood-mould on the heads. A 14th century priest's door on the south side of the chancel has an ogee arch.

The 14th century nave and chancel feature a 5-bay nave arcade with octagonal piers and arches with double hollow-chamfer. The nave roof comprises 9 bays with arched braces to cambered embattled collars and a moulded and brattished cornice; painted headless figures remain at the base of some corbels. The chancel windows are notable: a 5-light east window with reticulated tracery, and variants of reticulation with a circle containing an ogee octofoil above, to the north and south of the chancel. The chancel features a simple braced rafter roof, a piscina with ogee head and cinquefoil cusping, plain sedilia, and some old poppyhead bench ends. Fragments of medieval glass survive in the north-east window.

Interior fittings include a Seven Sacrament font retaining original colouring in its panels (the 8th panel representing the Baptism of Christ), with a bowl supported by angels and a high double octagonal base. A Jacobean pulpit stands with the door to the rood loft beside it. The carved and painted base of the rood screen survives, with traceried panels each containing full-length paintings of 2 saints (16 in all); the base features enriched quatrefoils. Beside the north door is a large wall-painting apparently of a Madonna and Child under a canopy. Early 19th century panelled benches line the nave. The floors throughout are paved with old floor bricks.