Church Of The Holy Cross

Church of the Holy Cross

A church of late 13th to mid-14th century date with earlier origins, occupying the north side of Collingtree Road in Milton Malsor. The building was substantially restored between 1874 and 1877 by E.F. Law, with further restoration in 1880.

The church is constructed of coursed squared ironstone and limestone, with slate roofs to the nave and chancel and lead roofs to the aisles. It comprises a chancel with north and south chancel chapels, an aisled nave, a south porch, and a west tower.

The chancel is of two bays, with a 5-light east window and 3-light south window, both featuring reticulated tracery and hood moulds with label stops. Quatrefoil clerestory windows light the chancel. The north and south chancel chapels continue the line of the aisles, overlapping the chancel, and have rose windows to their east ends set in square chamfered stone surrounds; the north chapel's rose window dates to the 19th century. The south chapel contains a narrow blocked chamfered doorway with hood mould on its east wall by the chancel, and a 3-light south window with cinquefoil-headed lights and hood mould. The north chapel has a 3-light north window with cusped ogee-arched heads to the lights and hood mould, and a small 2-light low-side window to the north-west with Decorated tracery and hood mould.

The nave has a 4-bay clerestory with pointed trefoil windows on the south side only, each with hood moulds. The north aisle contains 3-light windows to the north with straight heads and ogee-arched heads to the lights, and a north doorway with continuous sunk quadrant and wave moulding and hollow chamfer. The south aisle has 2-light windows to the south with Decorated tracery and a double-chamfered south doorway in a porch that was rebuilt in the 19th century. Both aisles feature a 3-light west window with identical late 13th-century tracery.

The west tower rises in three stages. It has a triple-chamfered west doorway, small 1-light chamfered windows to the middle stage, and 2-light bell-chamber openings with broken-away mullions. A battlemented parapet with tall corner pinnacles crowns the tower, above which rises a short crocketed spire with one tier of lucarnes on an octagonal recessed base. The base features 2-light windows on four sides with Decorated tracery. Hood moulds run across the doorways and windows of the tower and aisles. The main body of the church has plain stone-coped parapets and angle buttresses to the chancel.

Interior

The sanctuary is raised and approached by three steps. Its floor is laid with encaustic tiles, the fronts of the risers inscribed "DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME / I WILL WASH MY HANDS IN INNOCENCY O LORD / AND SO WILL I GO TO THINE ALTAR." A chamfered arched aumbry and piscina with pointed trefoil head are set within the chancel. Double-chamfered arches open to the chancel chapels, with polygonal east responds and semi-circular west responds. The chancel arch is double-chamfered, continuous to the outer arch, with semi-circular inner responds.

The nave arcades span four bays with circular piers, moulded bases, octagonal abaci, and double-chamfered arches. Both chancel chapels contain a piscina: the north chapel's has a cusped head, the south chapel's a cinquefoiled head. The roofs throughout date to the 19th century.

A plain font has a circular bowl. The chancel's stained-glass east window dates to 1894 and is signed by H.A. Hymers of 182 Kings Road, Chelsea. A fine brass corona with oil lamps hangs within the church.

Monuments

A wall monument of alabaster commemorates Dame Jane Sapcotes Harrington, died 1610. It features an apron, Ionic half-columns flanking the inscription, and a painted coat of arms above with strapwork surround.

A limestone wall monument to William Dry, Yeoman and Lord of Mantells Manor, died 1637, has panelled pilasters and a pair of obelisk finials.

A wall monument of white and coloured marbles commemorates Richard Dodwell, died 1726. It features Corinthian pilasters, an apron with cherubs' heads and coat of arms, and a segmental pediment with urn and lamp finials, all with gilded flame finials.