Parish Church of St Andrew (EHER 11238)

A late 14th century parish church, altered in the early 16th century and restored in the 20th century. It is built of dressed flint and stone rubble with dressings of limestone, clunch and red brick. The roof is covered with handmade red clay tiles. The nave dates to the late 14th century and the chancel to the early 16th century. The West tower was built in around 1500, and the South porch added in the 18th century.

November 1953. Grade II* listed. A late 14th century parish church, altered in the early 16th century and restored in the 20th century. It is built of dressed flint and stone rubble with dressings of limestone, clunch and red brick. The roof is covered with handmade red clay tiles. The nave dates to the late 14th century and the chancel to the early 16th century. The West tower was built in around 1500, and the South porch added in the 18th century. Above the West doorway of the bell-chamber is an inscription in black letter '+ Orate pro animabus dominorum Johannis Wylson et Johannis Hyll quorum animabus propicietur deus amen', decayed at the bottom. Internally, there is a octagonal font from around 1400, with sunk panels richly carved with figures: (a) baptism of a king, (b) man and woman, (c) king and queen, (d) seraph, (e) two men with scrolls, (f) martyrdom of St Andrew, (g) 2 figures of men, a moulded under-edge carved with angels (defaced), panelled stem, with two ranges of cusped panels divided by a crenellated band, and a moulded base carved with square flowers. In the nave there are brasses of: (1) William Hyklott, 1508, 'which paide for the werkmanship of the wall of this churche', figure in civil costume, Trinity, and indents of two children; (2) to Margaret Hyklott, 1502, figures of two daughters, one habited as a nun, a Virgin and child, indent only of main figure. Under the font is a floor slab to Elizabeth Gordon, 1701. There are two bells, the first by Thomas Harrys, late 15th century, inscribed 'Vox Augustine Sonet in Aure Dei', the second by Miles Graye, 1638. <1> <2> A church constructed of flint and stone rubble, the walls of the chancel are of brick and dressings are of limestone and brick. The nave was built in the late 14th century and the tower added in about 1500. The chancel was rebuilt in the early 16th century. The window in the North wall of the chancel is a much restored 16th century example. There is a similar window in the South wall and the East doorway is of the same date. The chancel arch is recent except for the stone responds which may be 14th century. Of three windows in the North wall of nave, the two Eastern are 15th century and the Western is late 15th century. Between the two West windows, the late 14th century doorway is now blocked. At the East end of the wall are the late 15th or early 16th century lower and upper doorways to the rood loft staircase. The South doorway is of late 14th date. The West tower was built in around 1500 and is of three stages. One of the two bells is late 15th century. There are two early 16th century brasses in the nave and a 15th century moulded bracket. The font of around 1400 has an octagonal bowl with sunken panels carved with figures. There is a 15th century piscina in the South wall of the nave. <3> <4> 1923. Site Assessment. Tower in bad condition. <4> See photos <5> <6>. See also <7> <8>. September-October 2011. Watching brief. A layer of stone chippings and mortar was observed beneath the chancel wall in one of the pits. This material may have come from an earlier phase of the church located in the vicinity or may simply be associated with the construction the surviving chancel. <9> NRHE data transfer: St Andrew's Church (CofE) [NAT]. <10>