Church Of St Sampson

Church of St Sampson

An Anglican parish church dating from the 10th to 11th centuries, with substantial work from the 12th, 13th, 15th, 16th centuries, and 19th-century restoration by Ewan Christian. The building is constructed of limestone rubble with stone slate and lead roofs.

The church comprises a nave with north and south aisles, a north porch, transepts with a central tower, a chancel with a north chapel, and is situated on the south side of Bath Road in Cricklade.

The entrance is through a 15th-century gabled north porch with angle buttresses. Above the moulded mid-13th-century door are two Anglo-Saxon stones: one tomb and one part cross shaft. The north aisle contains three 14th-century three-light windows, with two lancets at the west. The south aisle has a 19th-century geometric window and trefoiled lancets. The chancel has 15th-century windows that represent a remodelling of an earlier structure.

The central tower is heavy and impressive, built in the mid-16th century at the expense of the Duke of Northumberland and the Hungerfords of Down Ampney. Money for its construction was collected from 1512 onwards. The tower rises in two stages with large octagonal panelled corner towers terminating in octagonal spires. The ringing stage features intersecting tracery, and the bell stage has small bell openings in panelled work. A pierced crenellated parapet crowns the structure.

Interior

The nave comprises three bays without a clerestorey. Some 10th to 11th-century work appears to be incorporated; lesenes visible on the wall above the south aisle suggest this early phase. The north arcade is late 12th-century with piers featuring carved capitals and arches of 2 orders dating to the 13th to 14th centuries. The south arcade is similar, dating to the 13th century with round capitals and lobed bases, though probably representing a remodelling (the imposts match those on the north side). The centre span is wider than the others. A five-bay 19th-century roof spans the nave. The north aisle has a pitched roof with barrel vault in timber, and the lancets feature rere-arches and nook shafts.

The transepts incorporate early work. The north transept now functions as an organ chamber and has a lancet; the south transept serves as a vestry. The chancel dates to the 13th century and was remodelled in the 14th century with 19th-century improvements. It has an open 19th-century timber roof with one tie.

The North Chapel probably dates from 1484 and was built for the Hungerford family. It features depressed arches opening to both the chancel and transept. Niches flank the east window, each with attached columns and elaborate openwork canopies. The central tower is supported on massive piers splayed to the central space. These piers are panelled with bold heraldic decoration and carved corbels for statuary, all in Reyes Catolicos style. A lierne vault with a central opening for bells rises above.

Fittings and Monuments

The font is 15th-century, panelled, standing on a 19th-century base with a suspended cover. The pulpit is 19th-century limestone with stone steps.

The north aisle contains a 14th-century wall tomb with a crocketed ogee canopy and quatrefoiled base, now containing a probably 15th-century monolithic and worn effigy, said to be Agnes Dunstanville (died 1442), who partially rebuilt the south transept. A low chest tomb at the east end, limestone with a black marble top, is inscribed to Robert Jenner, Goldsmith of London, who built the adjoining school and died in 1651; a slab to his wife lies below.

The east wall of the north aisle features a series of wall tablets. Top left: John Nott (died in Port Royal, 1790). Centre: A white marble tablet on slate ground with an obelisk and phoenix, to John Bristow (died 1788). Top right: A draped urn with side pilasters, to William Maskelyne (died c.1800). Bottom left: An aedicule with broken pediment, to John Nott (died at Madras, 1769). Centre: A tablet with recessed side panels inlaid with black, to John Neale Pleydell-Nott (died off Martinique, 1784, with arms below). Bottom right: A tablet with cornice, to Edward Pleydell (died 1675) and Mary Morgan (died 1763). The left wall bears a monument to Major Smythe (died in East Indies, 1857, by W. Legg of Purton). The right wall has a tablet with cornice and urn, to William Adams (died 1812, by R. Mills of Cirencester).

The north transept contains a 17th-century wall monument in limestone with slate back, featuring a segmental pediment with arms and scrolls to the sides. Three lozenge wall tablets also stand in this transept.

The west window contains 19th-century glass by Kempe (1888). Good 17th-century grave slabs are laid in the paving under the tower.

Miscellaneous Features

Built into the south aisle at high level are two carved stones: to the west, two deeply carved affronted beasts, probably 12th-century, and a stone with a central moulded panel, now defaced, supported by two figures, said to be Roman. The porch contains a clunch niche.