Church Of All Saints

MARCHAM CHURCH STREET SU4596 (East side) 18/141 Church of All Saints 09/02/66

GV II*

Church. Early C13 and C15: rebuilt, except tower, by William Fisher of Oxford in 1837. Coursed dressed limestone with ashlar dressings, except tower which is of uncoursed limestone rubble. Gabled stone slate chancel roof, and Welsh slate nave roof. Chancel with north chapel, wide nave and west tower. 1:5:1 bays. Early English and Perpendicular styles: remodelled in Perpendicular Revival style. Double-gabled east wall of chancel has 3-light Curvilinear-style window to left of early C13 stepped three-light lancet window. Each side wall of chancel has chamfered lancet and pointed doorway. Crenellated nave has label moulds over 2-light and central 3-light Perpendicular-style transomed windows to north: similar 3-light windows flank gabled south porch: very fine late C14/early C15 south doorway is cinquefoil-headed with independent leaf decoration in casement-moulded architrave. Early C13 three-stage west tower has original corner buttresses, one-light bell openings, slit lights and west lancet: unusual early C13 ashlar stair turret in north-east corner has slit lights and quatrefoil panel in gable top. Interior: jamb shafts with bell capitals to east window of north chapel. Early C13 archway between chancel and north chapel has chamfered arch set on half-piers with ball flower capitals. Bench in north chapel has C16 linenfold-carved bench end: chancel has C19 wall tablets, and late C18 obelisk wall tablet to John Barnes, d.1782. Twin chancel and north chapel arches to nave: communion rail, pews and altar at east end. Early C19 pulpit, and reading desk of c.1907. Pews have C16 bench ends with linenfold carving. Tall early C19 pedimented wall tablet to Aldworth family, mid C19 stele tablets (one in porch), and Cothick wall tablet to Thomas Prince, d.1823: wall tablet at west end to Thomas Hayward, d.1692. Wall brass east of door to Edmund Fettiplace, d.1540, and wife: depicts them both kneeling at prayer with their children. Tub-shaped stepped font is probably C13. Perpendicular-style 8-bay roof supported on head corbels. Early C15 triple hollow-chamfered archway to west tower room, which has quadripartite vault with hollow-chamfered ribs on head corbels. J.C. Buckler drew interior details and the church exterior (mainly C15) in 1819. (Bodleian Library, MS Top. Berks. C.50, Nos.106-8; Buildings of England: Berkshire, pp.176-177; V.C.H.: Berkshire, Vol.IV, pp.358-9; Victoria and Albert Museum, South Kensington, London has drawings in box A-170, D.1784-7; H.M. Colvin, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, 1978, p.308).

Listing NGR: SU4520496814