Church Of St Nicholas

TM 48 SE 1/61 27/11/54

WRENTHAM CHURCH STREET Church of St. Nicholas

GV I

Parish church. Medieval; restored mid C19, the north aisle being added in 1853; chancel restored 1932. Nave, chancel, north and south aisles, west tower, south porch. Random flint rubble, mostly rendered except for the tower; stone dressings; slated roof to nave, plaintiled roof to chancel with modern sealant. Fine C15 tower, faced in knapped flint: 4 stages, with diagonal buttresses and crenellated parapet, both enriched with flushwork; around the plinth is a stone frieze with lozenges and blank shields. The west doorway has a moulded surround with carved spandrels and flanking canopied niches; large 4-light west window. In the third stage are square openings with a tracery grill; 2-light bell chamber openings. 3-bay aisles. Late C14/early C15 south aisle with original windows; the north aisle has some re- used windows of C14-C15. Late C15 porch, faced with knapped flint and with flushwork panels to the facade; crenellated parapet. C13 chancel, considerably restored: 2 tall lancet windows and one Perpendicular window to north and south; 5-light east window. Interior 3-bay aisle arcades, the north arcade of 1853 matching the south; the north aisle has half-piers against the north wall, with timber posts being added in the south aisle to match: both have east-west arched-bracing along the wall. C19 roofs. Wide chancel without a chancel arch. Trefoil-headed piscinas in south aisle and south sanctuary. Niche for banner stave locker at west end of south aisle. C19 font in nave; at the east end of the north aisle is a C15 carved octagonal font bowl, damaged but with traces of original colouring: this was discovered in the rectory garden. C19 furnishings. C17 wall monument in north chancel to members of the Skippon family. 2 effigy brasses: Ele Bowet (c.1400) in chancel floor, Humphrye Brewster (1593) re-mounted on north chancel wall. Several C17-C18 ledger slabs of Brewster family in sanctuary; 2 Brewster hatchments south of tower arch. Arms of William IV painted on boards in apex of roof at entrance to chancel.

Listing NGR: TM4890783015