Church of All Saints, Ulting (EHER 38983)

A parish church comprising a 13th century nave and chancel, the chancel with an earlier core, which was restored and extended in 1873 by Frederick Chancellor. The north porch and south vestry are 19th century. It is built from flint, puddingstone, septaria and brick, and the roof is covered in red plain tile with pierced ridge tiles.

December 1959. Grade II* listed. A parish church comprising a 13th century nave and chancel, the chancel with an earlier core, which was restored and extended in 1873 by Frederick Chancellor. The north porch and south vestry are 19th century. It is built from flint, puddingstone, septaria and brick, and the roof is covered in red plain tile with pierced ridge tiles. It is covered in weatherboard and has a shingled spire. Before 1873, the vestry was attached to south side of nave. The chancel retains some possible 15th century features in the east window. The 19th century vestry also retains 13th and 14th century window features. There is a 14th century piscina in the north wall of the nave, under a 14th century inserted window; 19th century carved choir stalls, carved pews with poppy heads; a 19th century octagonal stone pulpit; 19th century organ with painted pipes; and a probably early 13th century octagonal font, the bowl made from Purbeck marble. Earliest records of a church on the site are from 1299 when the Lord of the Manor of Ulting gave the church to Beeleigh Abbey (EHER 7760), but physical evidence suggests at least mid 12th century origins. The unusual position of the nave piscine and sedilia suggests the use of the nave as a parochial church, the chancel for the monks. <1> See photos <2>. July 1987. Field survey. All Saints' Church (name confirmed) in normal use. Current resurvey depiction correct. <3> 2004. Watching brief. Holes dug by Mr J Page for a new bench on the western boundary of the churchyard in 2004 produced building material including Tudor brick, mortar, stucco, and peg tile. Two potsherds were also found. One 13th century London-type ware from a jug; one a lower handle attachment from a jug made of Mill Green ware, dated to the 14th or 15th centuries. <4> Drawings prepared by Fredrick Chancellor relating to a major renovation of the church in the 1870s, show that the 'pilaster buttresses' adjoining the chancel wall to the right of the vestry, are in fact the remains of a flue for a pot-bellied stove for the chancel and a fireplace in the adjoining vestry. Also the 'slab moment' by the south wall of the chancel, is in fact the remains of a plinth onto which the stove stood. <5> Walls of flint and puddingstone-rubble with freestone dressings and tiled roofs. Chancel and nave both date from the early 13th century but the bases of the walls may be earlier in date. The chancel and nave are undivided structurally. Features and fittings include: windows and window details of early 13th, late 14th and 15th centuries; internal splays and rear arch of south doorway in the chancel are 13th century; the nave south and north doorways are 'modern' except the re-worked internal stones; the chancel roof has a 15th century wall plate and an early 16th century tie-beam; 14th century nave roof; early 13th century font; probably 14th century piscina in an unusual position in the nave north wall immediately west of NE window; 15th century or reused 16th century bench-end reused in modern chest-seat in vestry. The church was extensively restored in 1873; the north porch and south vestry are 'modern'. Features and fittings include: a bell of 1636; the plate includes a cup of 1570 and cover-paten of 1571, with same date engraved on foot. <6> <7> <8> Walls are of flint, puddingstone, septaria and brick; stone dressings; tiled roof. Weatherboarded and shingled spire. Remains of slab monument by south wall of chancel. Nineteenth century windows and doorways; 19th century altar rails, choir stalls, pulpit and organ. Church has weatherboarded and shingle spire. Tombstone and cast iron railings 30m NE of NW corner of nave are also listed, see EHER 38984. <9> Two photos of church in the EHER. <10> All Saints' Church (C of E) (NAT). <11> See also <12> <13> <14>. Site Assessment: 'The unusual position of the piscina is noteworthy'. <8> Original HER entry merged with NRHE data import.