This is a church for those who enjoy an architectural jigsaw. The exterior gives a clue to the complexity of the game. The nave, chancel and dominant central tower are Norman but given later fenestration. The north doorway incorporates in its upper part a stylised head of Christ flanked by imaginary beasts. This dates from circa 1130. Further along that wall you encounter a Norman window of the same period. In the chancel it is the turn of 13th masons to show off in the particularly handsome regular arched arcade that unusually runs around all three sides – note the naturalistic carving that remains on some of the original capitals. In the late 1870’s the church was restored by Carpenter and Ingelow which lead to the introduction of stained glass by Ward & Hughes, Kemp and Clayton &Bell. Don’t miss the memorial to John Bridges author of the first county history and patron of the artist Peter Tillemans who made invaluable drawings of the county’s principal buildings in the early 18th century. The reason for the memorial being here is that they lived at the large early 18th century house on the green.
Please refer to the Glossary for any terms in the text that you are unfamiliar with.