Church Of The Holy Cross

The Church of the Holy Cross is a parish church with origins in the early and late 12th century, early 13th century, around 1330, and the 15th century, with significant restoration completed in 1863. The church features stone walls, mostly rendered, and a tiled roof, with stone slates used for the aisles and porch. Initially, it consisted of an aisless nave and chancel, but during the 12th century, aisles were added to the nave (with arcades of four bays), chapels were added to the chancel (with arcades of two bays), and a west tower was constructed. The chancel was extended in the 13th century, and a vestry was added to its north side in the 15th century. The north chapel was modified and extended as a coupled chapel, with the north side serving as a chantry due to the actions of Richard de la Bere of Westcote in 1331. The 1863 restoration included the replacement of the chancel arch. The exterior is plain, featuring lancets for the clerestory and aisles, geometrical tracery in the north chapels, and 'restored' traceried east windows in the chancel and south chapel. The tower has a short octagonal spire, a parapet, and corner buttresses, while the south porch is constructed with a gabled timber frame. Inside, the chancel has round arches on cylindrical columns, and the nave has pointed arches (of varying heights) on cylindrical columns, with decorative caps on the north side and scalloped caps on the south side. There are piscinas located in the chancel and chapels, arched tomb recesses in both the south and north chapels, with the north chapel featuring a recumbent figure of a 'crusader' knight. The church also contains several floor slabs, some with inset brasses from the 17th century, and an alabaster font dating from 1896.