Dating from 1150 this List I parish church has elements from the 13th, 14th, 16th and 19th centuries.
The existing building probably replaced a wooden Saxon church. The Norman nave with a chancel is from the 1300s with windows of about 1340. The Brocas family of Beaurepaire built a Chapel in 1420 on the north side of chancel and they included some fine brass memorials to members of their family and a chest tomb. The west tower dates from about 1250 it was raised and restored in 1834. The south porch was added in 1533.
The tower contains six bells; the earliest was probably cast in the 1390s and three bells are inscribed with dates between 1587 and 1602. The tenor bell, weighing in at 11cwt (550Kg) was cast in 1618. The most recent, the treble, was cast in commemoration of World War I.
Between the chancel and chapel is an altar tomb with 2 carved figures (of about 1535) beneath a 4-centred panelled archway. The chapel is richly furnished with floor slabs, several C15 brasses and an east window fitted with stained glass of different periods and origin. There are several wall monuments, hatchments and large Royal Coat of Arms of 1660. The pulpit is dated 1634 and has a tester. The font is original, having a square bowl and is sat on a circular shaft and 4 corner shafts.
The church has a tile roof, the eaves having been raised in the C14. Walling is flint with some plasterwork, and stone dressings. The south porch is red brickwork in English bond with a Tudor doorway. Windows are mostly of 2 lights, cusped or with tracery. The tower has fine stone ashlar features dating form its restoration, with the upper parts of the diagonal buttresses carried out in red brickwork, the restored copper spire being topped with a golden ball.
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Now to find the cache, you’ll need to collect the years from three locations and use the last three to help work out the coordinates for the final:
The listed coordinates are for the lynchgate:
There is a brass plaque with a year on it: 1 A B C
Into the church yard and to the west door, look up:
Repaired and beautified by Elizabeth chute in: 1 D E F
Now out of the church and carry on westward to the war memorial with its own lynchgate:
There is a brass plaque with a year on it: 2 G H I
The cache is at:
N 51° 17. C ( F + H + G) D
W 001° 06. F B (E + H + I)
The cache is also a letterbox the Ink Pad and Stamp are to stay in the cache, but do feel free to take a copy of the stamp.
Parking there are a couple of places at N 51° 17.705 W 001° 06.365 but it can be busy with people visiting the village shop.
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro.co.uk
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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