Church Of The Holy Cross

SU 74 SE BINSTED BINSTED

4/65 Church of the Holy Cross 31/7/63 I

Parish church. Early and late C12, early C13, c133O, C15, and substantial restoration of 1863. Stone walls, mostly rendered, and a tiled roof, with stone slates to aisles and porch. Beginning as an aisless nave and chancel, the C12 saw extensions, of aisles to the nave (arcades of 4 bays), of chapels to the chancel (arcades of 2 bays) and a west tower. The chancel was extended in the C13, and a C15 vestry was added on its north side. The north chapel was altered and extended as a coupled chapel (the north side being a chantry) by the action (1331) of Richard de la Bere of Westcote. Restoration of 1863 included the replacement of the chancel arch. Plain exterior, with lancets to clerestory and aisles, Geometrical tracery to the north chapels, and 'restored' traceried east windows to chancel and south chapel. The tower has a short octagonal spire, a parapet and corner buttresses; the south porch is a gabled timber frame. Inside, there are round arches on cylindrical columns to the chancel, pointed arches (of different height) on cylindrical columns to the nave, with decorative (north) and scalloped (south) caps. There are piscinas in the chancel and chapels, arched tomb recesses in the south and north chapels, the north having a recumbent figure of a 'crusader' knight. There are several floor slabs, some with inset brasses of the C17, and an alabaster font of 1896.

Listing NGR: SU7755041390