Church Of St Andrew

TL 97 SW SAPISTON

3/86 Church of St. Andrew 14.7.55

GV I

Redundant parish church. C12, with later medieval work. Nave, chancel, west tower and south porch, built in rubble flint, coursed along lower part of nave walls, some ragstone, traces of external plaster. Steeply-pitched plaintiled roofs. Plain tower in 3 stages, without butresses: internal stair, string courses, embattled parapet, 2-light windows with Y-tracery. 4 bells remain in the belfry, dismounted, 3 dated respectively 1591, 1608, and 1730. C15 south porch with plain doorway and 2 2-light windows with cusped heads. On floor, 2 medieval coffin-lids reused as paving. Norman south doorway with plain inner arch, 2 orders of columns, cushion caps, and formalised acanthus-leaf decoration on both arches, a very unusual motif in Suffolk. There is a scratch dial on each of the outer columns. The nave walls appear to have been heightened. On south side of nave 2 2-light windows with cusped Y-tracery, and another 2-light window with flat Tudor arch. Inside, remains of Easter Sepulchre against north wall, with traces of wall-painting above. Plain octagonal font with damaged Jacobean cover. Blocked north doorway. Roof, uncovered 1982, of simple rafter type, with scissor-bracing halved across the collars. This was covered during the C19 with barrel vaulting and 3 false hammerbeam trusses. Benches around the nave walls include 2 small ones with low seats, apparently for children. Floor paved with white gault floor bricks, laid in rows diagonally. 2 black ledger slabs, one much damaged. The chancel has a 3-light east window with reticulated tracery and remains of medieval glass. Piscina with restored cusped ogee head and tiny matching side opening. Small pointed doorway with hood-mould. Blocked south window. Roof still covered.

Listing NGR: TL9205074258