Parish Church (Dedication Unknown)

Parish Church. The church largely dates to the 12th century, with later alterations and rebuilding in the 18th century, particularly to the south wall east of the porch. The chancel was rebuilt in the 15th century, incorporating a reset window. A 16th-century west tower was added, and a south porch was built at an unknown date. The building is constructed of squared rubble stone with dressings of Portland ashlar and some Ham Hill stone, topped with clay tile roofs and stone slates at the eaves.

The nave is not structurally separated from the chancel. The north wall east has remnants of a 15th-century rood stair. West of this is a 14th-century window with two uncusped lights in a square head and a segmental pointed rere arch. A blocked 12th-century doorway has a plain semi-circular head and moulded imposts. The south wall incorporates 15th-century refacing and a 15th-century window of two trefoiled lights, similar to that in the chancel south wall. East of the porch, the wall was rebuilt in the 18th century and contains a two-light timber window from this period. The 12th-century south doorway is similar to the north doorway, with a lower arch built below the original rere arch. The chancel has a chamfered plinth on its north and south sides and an east wall featuring a restored and reset late 13th-century window of three graduated lancets under a two-centred label with beast head stops. A 15th-century window of two trefoiled lights is also present on the chancel’s south wall. On the north wall is a similar 15th-century window, and a blocked 15th-century doorway. The C16 west tower has three storeys, divided externally into two stages, with a moulded plinth, embattled parapet, and buttresses. A three-sided projection provides access to the tower vice. The tower windows are described in R.C.H.M. 375, column 2.

Inside, the chancel roof dates from the 19th century. The nave has a plain plaster ceiling with canted sides; the original roof was of a lower pitch, evidenced by weathering stones on the east side of the tower. The font is of Purbeck marble with an octagonal bowl featuring eight two-centred arched panels, a circular stem with four detached circular shafts of a later date, and an octagonal base, dating to the early 13th century. Wall paintings include a 15th-century depiction of St. Christopher with a child on his shoulder, a mermaid with a comb and glass in the background, and a painted conservation cross with a yellow and red border. There are also traces of figure painting within an arcading of seven bays with trefoiled and crocketed triangular heads, outlining shafts and caps in red. Fragments of carved cross shafts with interlace panels, dating to the 10th century, have been discovered. A communion table bears the inscription "The Giueft of A M Wedo: D:S:E:H: 1637." A C17 south doorway exists. The church holds significant examples of wall paintings and stone sculpture.