Church Of All Saints

The Church of All Saints is a parish church, dating from the medieval period with substantial restoration work carried out in 1898. It comprises a nave, chancel, south aisle, west tower, and a south porch which now serves as a vestry. The building is constructed of flint rubble with stone dressings, retaining some original plasterwork in the nave and chancel, with the aisle partially cement-rendered. The nave and aisle have leaded roofs, while the chancel features a slate roof.

The round tower, likely dating back to the 11th century, is a prominent feature. The west window originates from the 15th century, with the belfry openings also from the same period, though now lacking their tracery, topped by a later stepped parapet. The lower sections of the nave walls are probably from the 11th century, showing fieldstone construction and a steeply-pitched original gable on the west return, later raised approximately 2 metres. A good 12th-century north doorway features a single order of colonnettes, an arch with two orders of chevrons, and a semi-circular hoodmould with billets. Two 15th-century windows are visible on the north side of the nave. The south aisle is 14th century, with mainly 15th-century windows. The porch, also probably 14th century, was partly rebuilt in the 19th century, retaining its original roof and the door leading into the nave. The chancel has two 15th-century windows, one to the north and one to the south (the south window is now blocked), set within fabric of earlier date. A late 19th-century east window is in Perpendicular style.

Inside, a 14th-century three-bay aisle arcade is present, the bay to the east of the chancel arch being lower. The nave is covered by a 15th-century arched-braced roof with a crenellated wallplate, unusually mutilated carved corbels at the foot of each wallpost, and fleuron bosses marking the junction of purlins and principal rafters. The chancel has a similar arch-braced roof with matching bosses. A wooden chancel arch is notable, flanked by stud and plaster infill, with a surviving crenellated rood beam. Two piscinae are located in the sanctuary, one possibly dating to the 19th century. A good 15th-century octagonal font’s bowl depicts lions alternating with angels bearing shields, supported by eight heads, and featuring four lions set upon heads at the base. Chancel stalls incorporate some 15th-century traceried woodwork and poppyhead ends. A 17th-century pedimented tablet commemorates the Gooch family on the north wall of the nave. Above the tower arch are the arms of George III. An ogee-canopied tomb recess, potentially belonging to Sir John de Norwich, builder of Mettingham Castle, is set within the south wall of the aisle.