OUR BUILDING

There has been a church on the existing site since the Domesday Survey of 1086, the north wall of the chancel being the only surviving fragment of this Norman building. In 1326 Lady Maud de Tony of Coxford Priory Manor made a donation to the Prior of Coxford for the founding of a chantry, resulting in the building of St Catherine's Chapel. The construction of the piers, nave and aisles followed a few years later.

The nave was re-constructed just before 1490 by raising the height of the nave by fourteen feet, inserting a magnificent clerestory of eight sets of perpendicular windows on each side, and building a carved oak and chestnut hammerbeam roof. The church registers date from 1510.

The Jacobean pulpit, complete with tester and carved oak communion table were made in 1634.

In 1838 the roof was thoroughly repaired and the damaged parts of the carvings replaced, and the square bell tower was rebuilt in 1864-5 (at a cost of about £1,200) complete with clock and 6 bells. The east window was also enhanced with stained glass around this time.

Visitors come here to see the famous roof and a collection of 6 monumental brasses (currently these brasses are unavailable for viewing) but will find many other interesting features in this majestic church. It is a busy church in a large village, the area of the parish larger than average.

Click on a section of the sketch below to find out more about that area

Architectural Features 1 - 7    Monumental Brasses 8.        Pugin Monument 9.        Piscina - Holy Trinity Chapel 10.      Piscina - St Catherine's Chapel 11.      Consecration mark on wall 12.      East Window 13.      Part of old font 14.      Font 1788 15.      Mediaeval Gargoyle 16.      15th century priest's door with carved dripstones.