Church Of All Saints

The Church of All Saints is a medieval church situated in Worlington. The church comprises a nave, chancel, west tower, a south aisle and vestry, and a south porch. The structure is primarily flint rubble with limestone dressings, although much of the north wall is plastered. The roofs are plaintiled, with flat roofs to the vestry, aisle and tower. A 13th-century lancet window is located in the north chancel wall. North and south doorways, together with a restored south priest's doorway, date to the later 13th century. The tower, of mid-14th century origin, has a lower stage constructed in ashlar, featuring a moulded west doorway and a traceried west window flanked by image niches. Small trefoiled belfry windows are also present, and a quatrefoil window in the ringing chamber incorporates a 13th-century coffin slab as a lintel. A worn 18th-century tablet with an enriched border is set into the south face of the tower. The south nave arcade is characterised by octagonal piers with moulded capitals of an early 14th-century style, supporting trefoil-headed arches—many of which bear medieval graffiti. A three-light early 14th-century east window exhibits intersecting tracery, while a later 14th-century low-side window is positioned in the south wall. The south aisle was raised in the 15th century, incorporating square-headed two-light windows with mask corbels and a new roof. A vestry at the west end retains its original doorway and door; a signature on the jamb identifies it as belonging to Bagot, a priest from 1447, and a high-level slit window may indicate a former upper chamber. The nave roof was also raised in the 15th century, showcasing unmoulded queen-post trusses with six posts per bay, the two innermost being arch-braced to the principals, accompanied by two secondary hammerbeam trusses in each bay, restored in 1926. Clerestory windows and large traceried windows are found on the north wall. A moulded rood-beam, doorway, and loft stairs remain at the chancel arch, with a 1475 will contributing towards the cost of painting the loft. A sanctus bell-cote is situated at the east nave gable, although the bell is now located at Moyses Hall Museum, Bury St. Edmunds, while an image niche is situated under the south eaves. The 14th or 15th-century porch was largely rebuilt in the 18th century using gault brick and incorporates another image niche. The chancel roof, from the 15th century, is canted and plastered, with a crenellated cornice. A 13th-century limestone font features a square bowl with recessed pilasters at the corners and five supporting shafts. There is a set of seven 14th-century pews in the aisle, four in the nave, and two in the chancel. An octagonal 17th-century pulpit is accompanied by 18th-century steps and a handrail. Fragments of three wall paintings are present on the north side of the nave, one depicting St. Christopher and partially covered by a monument. The church boasts medieval glass in the chancel, east aisle, and north nave wall, albeit in a somewhat jumbled arrangement. Several early 19th-century marble wall monuments are situated on the north nave wall, alongside a brass recording the benefaction of John Mortlock (1620). A marble monument to Revd. John Sankey (1738) is located in the chancel. Eight marble floor slabs, primarily from the 18th century – one dated 1697 – are set into the nave floor.