Church Of The Holy Cross

The Church of the Holy Cross is a parish church with a history spanning the 12th century to the 19th century. The nave dates to the 12th century, with an early 13th-century south aisle, a north aisle added in the mid-14th century, and alterations in the 15th century. A 16th-century bell tower sits over the north aisle's west end. The chancel was largely rebuilt and the remainder of the church restored in 1882.

The church is constructed of coursed lime and ironstone rubble. The nave and chancel have tiled roofs with 19th-century coped gables, while the aisles have leaded roofs. The bell tower features a shingled upper stage with a louvred bell chamber and a shingled broach spire, supported by a massive timber frame with curved braces inside the north aisle. The west wall of the nave contains a three-light traceried window above a blocked doorway featuring a moulded four-centred arch with carved spandrels. The aisles have two-light traceried windows, largely restored, and moulded arched doorways. The south aisle has a cusped lancet in the west bay. The north porch has a double-chamfered arch with a hoodmould, a small square window to the east, and an interior with stone benches, a carved stone cross on the west wall, moulded tie beams, and embattled wall plates. The chancel has ogee-traceried windows: two-light on the north and south sides, and three-light on the east, with a south door.

Inside, the nave has three bays. The north arcade has double-chamfered arches resting on octagonal piers with moulded caps; the west arch sits on a carved head corbel. A similar chancel arch is present. The south arcade features a double-chamfered arch to the west and two Transitional arches, pointed and chamfered, on a central round pier with a moulded cap. A blocked round-headed window is set into the central spandrel, and there is a rectangular opening to the rood-loft at the east end. The south aisle includes a four-centred arch leading to the rood-loft stairs, a much-restored cusped ogee piscina, and a roof with a moulded purlin and two trusses with 17th-century scalloped ornament. The chancel has a 19th-century roof, piscina, sedilia, and a tomb recess.

Notable fittings include a 15th-century octagonal font, an 18th-century pulpit, and a 17th-century “grass tussock.” Other fittings are from the 19th century. There is stained glass in the east window designed by Sir Ninian Comper in 1949. A 14th-century carved stone effigy depicting a man holding a chapel and standing on a sheep, said to be William de Birmingham, died 1342, is also present. The south aisle holds an altar tomb dedicated to Elizabeth Mayne (died 1599) and a brass memorial to Thomas Mayne (died 1608).