Church Of St Andrew

The Church of St Andrew is a parish church predominantly dating to the late 15th century, with a tower of mid-16th century construction and a mid-19th century restoration. It is built of Doulting ashlar with low-pitched lead roofs. The church comprises a clerestoried nave with north and south aisles, which extend as chapels around the chancel, along with a south porch and a two-story vestry, and a west tower. The architectural style is Perpendicular with gables and embattled detailing.

The four-stage west tower features set-back buttresses connected by detached pinnacles at the third stage; the angled buttresses become pinnacles below the main corner pinnacles. A 19th-century five-light reticulated window is positioned on the west side, above blind tracery of three lights, with identical bell openings and quatrefoil interlace. The buttressed south porch has an ogee gable and pinnacles, while the polygonal vestry, dated 1485, has simple two-light openings and an arch commemorating Garland, its benefactor. The remainder of the windows are of three lights, with a 19th-century reticulated east window.

Inside, the church has ornate tiled floors. There is fan vaulting in the tower and porch, along with 19th-century restored roofs, with the exception of a lean-to roof in the north chapel, dating to the 15th century, springing from angelic corbels. The arcaded nave has four bays, with consistent mouldings on all arches. The church contains significant furniture, including a memorial to the Horner family in the north chapel featuring an equine memorial by Munnings on a base designed by Lutyens, alongside further tablets, and a 17th-century chest tomb. A gesso plaque from 1886 by Burne-Jones is located under the tower, and there is cut lettering by Gill of 1916 dedicated to Raymond Asquith. A brass plaque from 1826 to the Fussell family, made by Gingell of Bath, is situated in the south aisle, accompanied by a framed tapestry after Burne-Jones by Lady Horner. The south chapel also contains a piscina. Seating includes mid-19th century benches, with some Jacobean examples remaining and others reused as panelling; there is a chest dated 1640, a 19th-century reading desk in Italian style, three brass chandeliers (the largest in the chancel dated 1721), and a Norman font. The stained glass is mostly 19th century, with windows by Hudson and Hardman, retaining elements of earlier work in the north aisle and vestry. The tower contains a 17th-century clock and a peal of eight bells, the earliest dating from 1717, with a sanctus bell positioned on the chancel roof.