St Andrew’s church is set back off the busy A170 and I’ve often driven past it with hardly a glimpse. It is worth stopping though, as the church contains some of the best Viking Crosses in England. Part of the churchyard is a wild flower area.
There has been a church here since Saxon times and the base of the tower is Saxon. On the west wall is a blocked off Saxon doorway with a later oval window at the top. The battlemented top is later and probably late 12th or early C13th.
Embedded in the wall above is an C8th Anglian cross.
The nave is Saxon/Norman although the clerestory and side aisles were added later, as was the south porch with its sundial dated 1782. The chancel was rebuilt in the C19th but in the style of the C14th.
Entry to the church is through a lovely C13th doorway with a trefoil arch above. The nail studded door has long narrow carved arches with a portcullis effect carving above. On the inside, horizontal and vertical bars give added strength.
The nave is plain, almost austere, with the clear glass clerestory windows allowing plenty of light into the church. C12th Norman arcades with solid round pillars and round arches separate the nave and side aisles. The North arcade is earlier and the capitals are less fancy. There are a few monuments on the walls.
The stone bench along the north wall is original and dates from the time the worshippers stood. The old and infirm were allowed to sit on a bench. It is the origin of the expression “the weakest go to the wall’.
At the back is a simple round stone font with a tall pyramid cover. The vestry is in the base of the tower.
The panelled wood pulpit is early C18th with an inlaid marquetry eight pointed star on the underside of the sounding board. John Wesley preached here in 16th July 1766, using John 4 v26 as his text. This must have been a momentous occasion as it is mentioned with pride in the church guide.
The chancel has a hammer beam roof with bosses. There is a massive organ on the north wall dates from 1891. There is a simple altar beneath the stained glass east window. At the side is a C16th or C17 wooden chest. Some of the choir stalls are C15th and still have misericords.
Cont...
There has been a church here since Saxon times and the base of the tower is Saxon. On the west wall is a blocked off Saxon doorway with a later oval window at the top. The battlemented top is later and probably late 12th or early C13th.
Embedded in the wall above is an C8th Anglian cross.
The nave is Saxon/Norman although the clerestory and side aisles were added later, as was the south porch with its sundial dated 1782. The chancel was rebuilt in the C19th but in the style of the C14th.
Entry to the church is through a lovely C13th doorway with a trefoil arch above. The nail studded door has long narrow carved arches with a portcullis effect carving above. On the inside, horizontal and vertical bars give added strength.
The nave is plain, almost austere, with the clear glass clerestory windows allowing plenty of light into the church. C12th Norman arcades with solid round pillars and round arches separate the nave and side aisles. The North arcade is earlier and the capitals are less fancy. There are a few monuments on the walls.
The stone bench along the north wall is original and dates from the time the worshippers stood. The old and infirm were allowed to sit on a bench. It is the origin of the expression “the weakest go to the wall’.
At the back is a simple round stone font with a tall pyramid cover. The vestry is in the base of the tower.
The panelled wood pulpit is early C18th with an inlaid marquetry eight pointed star on the underside of the sounding board. John Wesley preached here in 16th July 1766, using John 4 v26 as his text. This must have been a momentous occasion as it is mentioned with pride in the church guide.
The chancel has a hammer beam roof with bosses. There is a massive organ on the north wall dates from 1891. There is a simple altar beneath the stained glass east window. At the side is a C16th or C17 wooden chest. Some of the choir stalls are C15th and still have misericords.
Cont...