Church Of All Saints

The Church of All Saints is a church with origins in the late Saxon or early Norman period, significantly altered over the centuries. The nave dates to the 13th century, with a 14th-century south aisle and chancel. Restorations and rebuilding took place in 1773, the chancel was rebuilt in 1843, and further alterations and additions, including an east window, a bell turret, and a south porch, were made in 1898. The church is constructed from magnesian limestone ashlar, with a plain tile roof.

The building comprises a 3-bay nave and south aisle with a porch, and a 2-bay chancel. A bell turret is located at the west end. The south porch features a pointed-arched opening with a hood-mould, containing a double-chamfered pointed-arched doorway with renewed angle shafts and circular abaci, and a Y-traceried plank door. The nave has quoins and buttresses with offsets. The south side has two 2-light windows with Y-tracery, while the west end of the aisle has a single ogee light and the east end, a 3-light window with intersecting tracery. The north side has a pointed arched entrance with a plank door, a 3-light window with reticulated tracery, a lancet window, and two lancet windows at the west end. The chancel has quoins and incorporates a round-arched priest’s entrance with imposts under a hood, a plank door, a 2-light window with Decorated tracery, and a 2-light, straight-headed window to the north side. The east window has three lights and reticulated tracery.

Inside, the nave arcade consists of double-chamfered arches on octagonal piers. Notable features include a stoup to the right of the entrance, a tub font on a square base, a late 15th-century piscina in the south aisle, a squint, a round chancel arch with shaped imposts, and five stone altars with symbolised Wounds of Christ (now eroded), likely dating to the 11th century. Memorials include an altar tomb to Sir Robert Ryther (died 1327) and his wife, an effigy of a lady with a horned head dress and holding a heart, an alabaster altar tomb reputedly to Sir William Ryther (died 1475) with a recumbent effigy and mourners, and a 15th-century altar tomb with a black marble top and carved sides, featuring a tomb recess with a 4-centred head, a crocketed ogee gable, and a demi-figure of an angel. Early 17th-century memorial slabs to members of the Robinson family are set in the aisle, alongside remains of two medieval slabs, one with part of an incised cross base. Fragments of 14th-century glass are found in the south aisle’s west and east windows. The 1773 restoration included a brick tower and porch, both of which have since been demolished. Alterations and additions completed in 1898 cost £1400.