Church Micro #1825 - St Bartholomew, Ablourne
The church of ST. BARTHOLOMEW (the dedication is recorded from
1442), is of flint with stone dressings and consists of chancel,
nave with north aisle and bell turret, and south porch. It was
largely rebuilt in the 19th century.
The chancel walls are late 11th- or early 12thcentury; the south
chancel window is of that period, and a matching north window
existed in 1851. The chancel arch, with chevron mouldings, is a
19th century copy of the original one, some stones of which are
incorporated in the churchyard wall. The east wall of the chancel
has Norman imposts, which may be the remains of an apse; the wall
was rebuilt in the 13th century, with a lancet window later
renewed.
A brick south porch was built in 1641, possibly at the expense
of John Juxon of Albourne Place, since its flanking pilasters and
crow-stepped gable matched that building in style. The chancel was
'beautified' by the rector shortly before 1724; possibly about that
date the ceiling mentioned c. 1776 was added. A west gallery was
begun in 1723 or 1724, and also existed c. 1776. A bell turret with
a pyramidal cap was depicted in 1777. About 1827 a north transept
was added at the expense of Charles Goring. The church was entirely
rebuilt, except for part of the chancel, in 1853; the architect was
Gilbert Scott, and the cost was defrayed by the Revd. J. Goring. A
north aisle of three bays replaced the transept, the chancel arch
was rebuilt in new stone, and a new bell turret and south porch
were put up.
The plain octagonal font is medieval, and there is a
13th-century piscina in the east wall. The single bell is late
13th- or early 14th-century. In 1724 there was another bell
besides. The plate includes a silver cup and paten cover of 1571.
The registers begin in 1550.
taken from British History Online.