| Summary : A church architecturally of 13th century date, but mentioned in Domesday and therefore probably had a Saxon predecessor. It is built in squared and rubble coarsed limestone, witha lead covered roof. The plan consists of a chancel with a chapel to the south, a nave with north and south aisles, a north-west tower, a vestry, and north and south porches. The irregular parallelogram plan was probably influenced by an earlier 12th century church. It contains unusual Early English blank arcading and a fine arcade of 13th century date. There was considerable Perpindicular rebuilding in the later 15th century under the patronage of the Browne wool-merchant family, including the building of the tower and spire. Galleries inserted in the 17th century have been subsequently removed. In 1857 a subterranean compartment was found to the north of the church in the churchyard, measuring 9 foot and 6 inches wide and 12 foot high with quadripartite vault and passages to the south and west, but its location is now unknown. Further restorations were made from 1856 with the rebuilding of the vestry and changes to internal fittings continuing until at least 1878. |