Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints

This is a parish church of outstanding historical importance, with origins in the 10th century. The building was probably constructed for Aelfgifa, sister-in-law to King Eadgar, and retains a 10th-century nave, north aisle, chancel and crypt from that period. The south aisle was rebuilt in the 14th century, while the 15th century saw the addition of the south porch, west tower and clerestory. The north porch was rebuilt in the 19th century, and the church underwent restoration in 1848–9, 1893–4 and 1939–40.

The exterior is constructed of coursed limestone and greensand rubble with dressed stone parapets and lead roofs. The west tower rises in three stages and features a battlemented parapet with carved gargoyles, angle buttresses, a moulded plinth, and three-light traceried openings to the bell-chamber. The west side displays a large four-light traceried perpendicular window, a smaller two-light window above, and a door in a two-centred arch with blind tracery to the spandrels.

The nave is lit by a four-bay clerestory of two-light traceried windows with flat heads, the west bay containing taller windows with depressed arches. The clerestory has a battlemented parapet with carved stone figures below. Both aisles feature plain parapets with similar carved figures. The south aisle has regular 15th-century traceried windows—three two-light windows to the south, one to the west, and a three-light window to the east. The north aisle has irregular 15th-century two- and three-light windows, with a three-light perpendicular window over a blocked 10th-century arch at the east end.

Both porches have plain parapets and two-centred arches with a pair of two-light traceried windows to each side. The north arch is decorated with ornamental fleurons. The south porch is more elaborate, featuring crocketted finials, carved animal figures below the parapet, and carved heraldic angels and foliage to the spandrels.

The seven-sided apse has each side featuring a blind semi-circular arch on narrow angle pilasters with a gable motif above and an altered parapet. The north and south sides each have a three-light cusped window, while the east side has a higher three-light traceried window with transom. The south side also has an off-side lancet and entry to the crypt. The crypt is roughly vaulted with an ambulatory around a small central chamber.

The interior contains a tall moulded tower arch on piers with attached shafts. The nave has three bays of unmoulded semi-circular 10th-century arches on large rectangular piers with off-set imposts. The west bay has smaller 10th-century arches above the main arcade, probably once the entrances to a west gallery, one now blocked. The fourth bay to the east was altered in the 13th century and has double-chamfered arches. A four-centred arch to the rood-loft exists in the south wall. The east wall of the nave contains a 10th-century window with two round arches on a central column with cushion capital. The nave roof is a fine 15th-century example with moulded tie and cross beams, carved bosses, carved angel king-posts and alternately tall and short carved figure corbels. The aisle roofs are also 15th-century with moulded beams. The south aisle has a screened chapel with an arched door and stairs to the rood-loft. The chancel arch is wide and similar to the nave arcade.

The chancel contains a 15th-century pillar piscina with semi-octagonal shaft. Fittings include a 15th-century octagonal font with quatrefoil panels containing instruments of the passion; an early 17th-century pulpit with carved arcaded panels; a medieval chest; pews mostly of the 15th–16th centuries, restored; 15th–16th-century screens to the south chapel and chancel, with the nave screen much restored and the chapel screens featuring elaborate cusping; medieval board and stud doors; a panel of 14th-century glass in the south chapel; and glass by Kempe from 1901 in the chancel.

The church contains several significant monuments. A fine classical monument to Sir Robert Dormer (1552) consists of a sarcophagus carved with bucrania and swags, small brass inscription panels, and a canopy with ornately moulded entablature on paired Corinthian columns. The chancel has large wall monuments: one to Sir William Dormer and his wife (1590) with recumbent effigies, and another to his son Sir Robert and his wife (early 17th century) with kneeling figures. Both monuments feature kneeling children, elaborate surrounds and railings. A marble wall tablet in the nave commemorates Anna Sophia Dormer (1694/5) with a bust in a niche and mourning putti, and another marble tablet honours Henry Fynes (1758) with a carved putto unveiling an urn. Additional late 17th and 18th-century wall tablets are present, along with a brass to Thomas Cotes (1648), porter of Ascott Hall.