Church Of All Saints

Church of All Saints

Church with probable 12th century origins, substantially rebuilt in the 13th century with 15th century alterations. The building was restored in 1808, 1830, and 1870–71. It is constructed of squared coursed limestone with Collyweston slate and lead roofs.

The church follows a cruciform plan with an aisled nave, chancel, transepts, south porch, and west tower. The south elevation of the chancel contains a three-window range with one-, two- and three-light square-head windows. The leftmost single-light window has carved label stops, while the other windows have uncut label stops. Two-stage buttresses with cusped gablets project from the centre and right. A priest door stands to the left, with a shallow lean-to projection below the right window. The chancel is topped by a shallow gabled roof with ashlar parapets, a finial, and a large truncated pinnacle with corbel below at the end. A four-light square-head east window lights this elevation.

The north elevation of the chancel mirrors the south in a three-window range but features a tall low-side window at the far right. The south elevation of the south transept contains a four-light window with cusped Y-tracery and three spherical triangles above, beneath a steeply gabled roof with Collyweston slates. A two-light square-head east window pierces the transept's east wall. The north transept's north elevation holds a similar window to the south transept, restored in the 19th century, with a comparable gabled roof and two-light east window.

The south aisle comprises two bays with a one-window range including a Perpendicular three-light window to the right beneath a four-centred arch head. It is topped by a lean-to roof with plain ashlar parapets and has a similar three-light west window. The south porch gable features a moulded outer doorway with two-centred arch head and semi-circular responds, and a moulded inner doorway with a niche above. The north aisle, also of two bays, mirrors the south aisle with a three-light Perpendicular window to the left, restored in the 19th century. A north door with two-centred arch head, roll-moulding and one order of shafts stands to the right. The aisle is covered by a lean-to roof with plain ashlar parapet and has a similar three-light west window, restored in the 19th century.

The nave is roofed with a steeply gabled form clad in Collyweston slates. The three-stage west tower features two-stage clasping buttresses to its first stage. Its three-light west window displays cusping and spherical triangles, all restored in the 19th century, but retains original carved label stops. Single lancets punctuate the north and south faces of the second stage, with a small roundel featuring cusping on the west face. The upper stage contains two-light bell-chamber openings on each face, adorned with Y-tracery and cusping. Above runs a corbel table with plain ashlar parapet, crowned by crocketed pinnacles at the corners. A small pyramid roof of Collyweston slates sits atop, furnished with a wrought-iron weathervane.

The interior displays a three-bay nave arcade of double-chamfered and hollowed arches resting on circular piers. The chancel arch is double-chamfered with octagonal responds. The tower arch is triple-chamfered and hollowed, with the hollowing carried through the capitals of the responds. Double-chamfered arches with semi-circular responds occur at each pier spacing. Shallow arched recesses mark the east wall of the transept. The 19th century roof structures are evident throughout. A piscina and sedilia to the right of the altar feature triple shafts, fillets, and head-stops. A second piscina sits in the south transept. An octagonal font with panelled cover occupies the nave.

The church preserves several important monuments. Sir Robert Vere, died 1249, is commemorated by a cross-legged knight effigy in a recess with shallow-moulded arch and shafts to the right of the altar. William West, died 1390, and his wife are represented by two brass figures with children alongside on the east wall of the north transept. Various 17th and 18th century inscribed tablets line the nave and chancel floors.

Stained glass includes fragments of pre-19th century glass in the east window of the south transept. The south-west chancel window and east window of the north transept contain 19th century stained glass, with the east window being by Kempe. A clock installed in the tower around 1740, given by Lady Elizabeth Germain of Drayton House, retains its striking mechanism only and lacks a face.

The cruciform plan likely originates from the 12th century church. During the 19th century restoration, a stone inscribed with a Saxon cross was discovered.