Church Of St Swithin

The Church of St Swithin is a Grade I listed building dating from the 12th century, with restorations in 1786 and 1865 by Salvin. This single-cell, aisleless church features a rare apsidal design. It has a tile roof, and the west gable is adorned with a stone bell turret from 1865, which has two openings beneath a gable and stepped bases that extend onto a stone verge. The walls are constructed of flint with stone dressings, and there are small Norman windows, including three original ones in the apse and two on the south wall of the nave that are period replacements of larger 14th-century lights. A notable feature is the tall Norman west window. The north door is made of Binstead stone and showcases zig-zag and bead and reel mouldings on the outer arch, supported by shafts with carved caps, while the inner order has a trefoil head with rolled cusps. Inside, the church has wide window splays and a gallery primarily from 1786, which includes a moulded beam carrying a brass plate dated 1591, indicating an early Post-Reformation structure. The roof is arch-braced and timber-framed, dating to 1786. There are numerous wall monuments from the 19th century dedicated to the Carleton family, whose vault is located beneath the nave's shole, some of which have intriguing connections to early Canadian history. Additionally, there is a fine pulpit by Salvin, which is unusually modern for the setting.