Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints

This church was built in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, with 16th-century additions and early 18th-century work. It was substantially restored in 1856 by the architect William White. The building is constructed of lias ashlar with lead roofs and comprises a nave, chancel, north aisle, south porch and west tower.

The chancel's south elevation displays a range of two 2-light windows with quatrefoil circles and carved label stops. A priest door at the centre has a double chamfered surround. A 2-stage clasping buttress stands at the right corner. The chancel has a shallow gabled roof with a tall plain parapet. The 4-light east window contains intersecting tracery with carved label stops. The north elevation of the chancel is blank with 2 chamfered plinths, 2 blocked arch-head openings to left and right of centre, and the remains of a trefoil-head piscina at the centre. This elevation has a shallow gabled roof without a parapet.

The nave's south elevation comprises 3 bays with a 2-window range of 3- and 4-light windows with intersecting tracery, flanking the centre. It has a shallow gabled roof with a tall plain parapet. The central porch was rebuilt in 1715 with a moulded outer doorway with ogee head and a stepped, roll-moulded inner doorway. The porch contains a pair of studded plank doors with strap hinges and a gabled roof with ashlar gable parapets and finial.

The north aisle was rebuilt in 1856 and comprises 4 bays with a 3-window range of 19th-century two-light windows with carved label stops. There are 2-stage angle buttresses to the far left and right. A lean-to roof with ashlar gable parapet sits at the abutment with the tower.

The 16th-century west tower has 3 stages with a plinth and 2-stage angle buttresses to the western corners of the lower 2 stages. The lower stage contains a 3-light square-head west window with arch-head lights, topped by a relieving arch. The second stage has single-light square-head windows on its west face. The upper stage features 2-light square-head bell-chamber openings with arch-head lights on each face. The tower has a castellated parapet, with crenellations remaining only at the corners.

The interior contains a 14th-century four-bay north arcade to the nave, restored around 1856, with double-chamfered arches, octagonal piers and plain responds. The square abaci of the west pier may be reused 12th-century work. The chancel arch is double-chamfered with polygonal responds. The tower arch is double-chamfered with bracketed responds. The north wall of the chancel has 2 single-chamfered blocked archways. The nave and chancel roofs are probably 18th-century, restored in the 19th century.

The church contains an early 13th-century font with blank intersecting arches and a band of dogtooth decoration, restored in the 19th century. A trefoil-head piscina stands to the left of the altar. A late 15th-century rood screen has been reset in the tower arch. Stained glass includes a late 19th-century east window and 19th-century stained glass borders to several other windows.

The church contains numerous monuments. Elizabeth Woodhull, died 1656, is commemorated by an inscribed wall tablet reset in the north aisle, with side volutes and a broken pediment. Brass tablets to the south wall of the chancel record Anthony Woodhull and his wife, both died 1669; Anthony Woodhull died 1675 and his wife died 1678; and Francis Woodhull died 1700. An inscribed tablet to the north wall of the chancel for Anthony Woodhull died 1669 and his wife features a cherub, swags and a broken pediment. Ambrose Holbech died 1700 and his wife are recorded on an inscribed tablet to the south wall of the chancel with flanking pilasters and a broken pediment. Ambrose Holbech died 1737 is commemorated by an inscribed tablet to the south wall of the nave with a broken pediment over and an obelisk above. Elizabeth Holbech died 1732 has a chest tomb reset in the north aisle with a black marble inscribed tablet and black marble cover, flanked by bolection-moulded pilasters with armorial devices. Finetta Holbech died 1758 is marked by a black marble floor slab. Hugh Holbech died 1763 is recorded by an oval tablet to the south wall of the chancel with a rectangular panel surmounted by a draped urn. Richard Holloway died 1820 and his wife are commemorated by a plain tablet to the north wall of the nave. Various carved floor slabs are also present.