Building record 6132/1/1 - Church of All Saints, Middleton Cheney

An early 14th century church with a Perpendicular tower and restorations in 1864-5 by Sir George Gilbert Scott. It is constructed from squared uncoursed ironstone and ironstone ashlar with lead and stone slate roofs. The church comprises a chancel with north vestry, aisled nave with clerestory, south porch and west tower. The church contains an important collection of stained glass by William Morris and Company. The chancel's east window (1864-5) was designed by William Morris, Philip Webb, E Burne-Jones and Ford Maddox Brown, who also designed other windows in the chancel and aisles. Burne-Jones was a friend of the vicar W C Buckley. He designed his own memorial window in the chancel in collaboration with Burne-Jones. Morris and Company also designed the decoration for the chancel roof which was painted by George Cottam of Banbury in 1865.

{1} Church. Early C14 with Perpendicular tower. Restored 1865 by Sir G.G. Scott. Squared uncoursed ironstone and ironstone ashlar, lead and stone slate roofs. Chancel with north vestry, aisled nave with clerestory. South porch, west tower. Windows in chancel and aisles all have early C14 geometric tracery (some renewed C19). 4-light east window in chancel, 2-light windows in side walls. 3-light east windows in aisles, 2-light windows in side walls. C14 gabled south porch with stone vault carried on transverse arch with head corbels and tracery motifs above it. Inner doorway, early C14, has jamb shafts with bell capitals and hood with head stops. Medieval studded plank door with its original wicket. North doorway C14, with continuous mouldings. West tower of 3 stages, has cornice with gargoyles; castellated parapet with blind tracery and a pair of pinnacles at each corner linked to the octagonal spine by flying buttresses. Elaborately carved west doorway has continuous mouldings set with rosettes flanked by small figures of the Virgin Mary and angel Gabriel. Square hood with a frieze of angels with outspread wings. 3-light window above with panel tracery and 2-light traceried bell openings. Interior: Piscina in chancel has cusped arch and gabled hood with head stops. C14 chancel arch, responds altered C19. 4-bay nave arcades with quatrefoil piers, arches of 2 orders and hoods with head stops. Perpendicular roofs in chancel and nave have stone head corbels and C19 painted decoration. Perpendicular font, octagonal, carved with rosettes. Perpendicular polygonal pulpit with blind tracery and C19 painted decoration. Perpendicular chancel screen with cresting by Sir G.G. Scott. Benches Perpendicular. Mosaics at west ends of aisles by Powell and Son, that in north aisle designed by Holiday. Important collection of stained glass by the William Morris firm. East window of chancel. 1864-5 designed by William Morris, Philip Webb, E. Burne-Jones and Ford Maddox Brown, who also designed other windows in the chancel and aisles. Burne-Jones was a friend of the vicar W.C. Buckley (died 1892). He designed his own memorial window in the chancel in collaboration with Burne-Jones. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.304-6; A.C. Sewter: The Stained Glass of William Morris and his Circle, Yale 1974-5, 2 Vols. Catalogue volume, p.133-134 ).

{4} The church of All Saints, Middleton Cheney was probably built about 1300 and much restored in 1865.

{7} Where the trench cut through the steps and doorway a mixed ironstone rubble deposit was seen, representing the footings of the tower west wall.

{8} A large parish church, C14 with a Perpendicular tower, restored in 1865 by GG Scott. There are signs internally that the nave and chancel roofs are leaking; water staining is evident and is damaging the painted scheme, designed by William Morris. Rainwater goods are in poor condition generally. Some downpipes are heavily rusted, and stonework behind leaking hoppers and pipes has markedly
deteriorated. The church has plans to apply for grant funding to tackle the repairs.

{10} Undated photo.

{11} A Church of All Saints. Stone, lead roofs. The church was probably built between 1330 and 1340, the clerestory, W. tower and spire are Perpendicular. The S. porch is Decorated and has a stone roof, stone relieving arch with tracery supported on carved corbels. The door is old and above the entrance archway is a sundial. The tall tower is crowned by pinnacles clustering round the base of the fine stone spire. The chancel screan is C.14-15 restored. The church was restored by Sir Gilbert Scott. Among the few remaining monuments is a wall tablet in the chancel with pilasters and broken pediment to Richard Garnett A.M, Rector, died 1764. Remarkable Stained glass by Burne-Jones, Morris, Ford Madox Brown and other Pre-Raphaelites.

{12} (SP 49864203) All Saints Church.

{15} Rubbings, a photo, lithograph, engraving, drawings, notes, sketches, measurements, and a flyer to raise money for repairs in 1897;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 11/165 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F02 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> DRAWINGS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56652.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.304-306 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<6> Baker G., 1830, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.655-56 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77327.

<7> Webster, M. & Jones, C., 2002, All Saints Church, Middleton Cheney: An Archaeological Watching Brief, (checked) (Report). SNN103408.

<8> Historic England, 2016, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2016, p. 55 (Report). SNN110747.

<9> Historic England, 2017, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2017, p. 63 (Report). SNN111090.

<9> Historic England, 2018, Heritage at Risk: East Midlands Register 2018, p. 63 (Report). SNN111434.

<10> Photographs of buildings in Middleton Cheney (Photographs). SNN112889.

<11> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, Brackley Rural, SEP-1960 (Report). SNN112993.

<12> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1955 (Map). SNN112944.

<13> Sewter, A Charles, 1975, The stained glass of William Morris and his circle : a catalogue, p. 133-4 (Book). SNN115551.

<14> Historic England, Undated, All Saints Church, Middleton Cheney, BF099431 (Archive). SNN115552.

<15> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/187/1-57 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 9:13AM