Church of the Holy Cross

The Church of the Holy Cross is an Anglican parish church. It largely dates to the late 12th century, with significant alterations and rebuilding in the 15th century, 1718, and 1825, followed by restoration after a fire in 1876, overseen by A.J. Style. The church is constructed of Malmstone with limestone dressings, and has a tiled roof. It comprises a nave, a north aisle, a south porch, a chancel, and a west tower. The south porch was reconstructed in the 18th century and subsequently repaired in the late 19th century. It features a moulded two-centred arch and perforated bargeboards, with a datestone indicating 1718. The inner doorway dates from the late 12th to early 13th century and is slightly pointed and chamfered. Most of the two-light nave windows were renewed in the 19th century, set within deep reveals. A square sundial is dated 1840. The chancel was rebuilt in 1825 by Col Wroughton and includes low-set, three-light Perpendicular-style windows and a porch leading to the south priest’s door. Four stones from the earlier chancel have been re-used, two of which are capitals decorated with masks and drapery. The north aisle has three-light, square-headed windows. The west tower has two stages, with its lower stage being tall, featuring a west door and window set in deep reveals. The bell openings have Somerset tracery and the tower is topped by a crenellated parapet with crocketed pinnacles. The interior is largely rendered in the 19th century. The nave, of three bays, has an arcade reconstructed after the 1876 fire. The chancel arch features triple columned responds with restored trumpet capitals carrying a pointed arch of two orders. Above the arch is a blocked semi-circular arch, wider than the nave, thought to be from a church mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book. A squint provides a view from the aisle. The roof dates from 1876. The long chancel has three bays and a late 19th-century roof. Fittings are all 19th-century, including a limestone font, square shaped and supported by five columns. The north side of the chancel contains a wall-tomb dated 1574, constructed of limestone. This tomb includes a flush chest with three strapwork shields, a four-centred arch with armorial spandrels, a scrolled crest, and the date. A painted inscription within the arch commemorates John Borwick (Berwick) and his daughter. There are also eight 19th-century and one 20th-century brasses to the Montague and other families. A moulded stone tablet from the 18th century is on the west wall of the aisle, commemorating Jane Brooke, her mother, and her aunt. On the south side of the chancel, a framed wooden fruit trencher, dated 1610, features a painted inscription.