Church Of St Andrew

The Church of St Andrew is a parish church dating from the mid-14th to early 15th centuries, rebuilt following the establishment of Wingfield College in 1362 by the will of Sir John de Wingfield. It was restored in the mid-19th century. The church comprises a nave, chancel, north and south aisles, a west tower, and a south porch. It is constructed of flint rubble with stone dressings, with plaintiled nave and chancel roofs and leaded aisle roofs.

The tower is a 3-stage square structure with 2-light belfry openings and a crenellated brick parapet. The south nave aisle has four 2-light windows and a 3-light window to the west, all featuring original Decorated-style tracery and internal shafts. A late 14th-century porch features a moulded doorway, with carved stops that may represent Sir John and Lady Wingfield. A 3-bay Lady Chapel was added around 1430 to the south of the chancel; it contains 19th-century Perpendicular-style windows, but a good late 14th-century 3-light window to the east. All windows are shafted internally. The north nave aisle has three bays with windows in Perpendicular style. The north chancel aisle incorporates the Chapel of the Holy Trinity (now the vestry) and the Chapel of St Margaret (now the organ chamber), featuring various windows and a good late 14th-century 3-light east window. A five-bay nave clerestory has 3-light windows. The chancel has seven closely-spaced 3-light clerestory windows and a good early 15th-century 5-light east window.

Inside, the medieval nave roof retains carved angels at the foot of the principals. The other roofs have been largely renewed in the 19th century. There are 5-bay arcades between the nave and aisles. The Chapel of St Margaret is separated from the chancel by an enriched arch. A fine canopied doorway leads north into the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, the former Wingfield chantry chapel, which has an upper chamber with a medieval screen and original paintwork to the ceilings. The Lady Chapel has a lavishly decorated 3-bay arcade. Furnishings include an early 15th-century carved font, good 15th-century stalls with misericords, a dado of medieval rood screen with traceried panels, and two 15th-century parclose screens with coving. Three notable monuments are present: Sir John de Wingfield (1361) with a recessed stone effigy on a tomb chest and an enriched ogee canopy; Michael de la Pole, 2nd Earl of Suffolk (1375) and Katherine his wife, with fine wooden effigies on a tomb chest with 13 canopied niches; and John de la Pole, 2nd Duke of Suffolk (1491) and Elizabeth his wife, with alabaster effigies on a tomb chest and canopy. Stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops are also present.