Building record 71/1/1 - Church of All Saints, Croughton

Parish Church built in the 12th to 14th centuries, the chancel was rebuilt, without the chancel arch, in 1830. Built of coursed limestone rubble, with lead and slate roofs. The church consists of a chancel and north organ chamber, nave and clerestory, north and south aisles with porches, and a west tower.

{1} Parish Church. C12 to C14. Chancel rebuilt without chancel arch 1830. (Church guide 1983). Coursed limestone rubble, lead and slate roof. Chancel and north organ chamber, nave and clerestory, north and south aisles with porches, west tower. Chancel windows C19. In the south aisle the east window is C19. The 2 south windows are Decorated, each of 2 lights and the west window is a C14 trefoiled lancet. North and south porches are C14. In the north aisle are 3- and 4-light C14 windows in the east and west wall and a 2- light window of the same date on the north. Squared-headed clerestory windows c.1300 of 2 cusped ogee lights. West tower of 3 stages has Perpendicular square headed bell openings. West doorway also Perpendicular with a window of the same date above. Interior: Stairs to former rood loft lead from south aisle. North arcade late C12 of 3 and a half bays with plain pointed arches, round piers with square abaci and capitals with trumpet scallops and flat leaf carving. South arcade is early C13, 3 bays with double chamfered arches, round piers with moulded capitals and stiff-leaf carving on east respond. Tower arch C12, pointed and plain. Re-used stones carved with Romanesque saltire crosses on west respond of south aisle. Romanesque tub front re-cut C14/C15 with a frieze of leaves and rosettes framing small animals and figures. Pulpit C17, octagonal with a fluted frieze. Chancel screen Perpendicular with one- light traceried openings and cornice with vine scrolls. Bench ends with re- used medieval tracery panels. Panelling made up from medieval tracery in north aisle. Nave roof Perpendicular with tracery between the beams and arched braces. South aisle roof similar. Important series of C14 wall paintings with scenes from the "Life of Christ" in the aisles and fragments of a "Last Judgement" at east end nave arcades. (Buildings of England : Northamptonshire, p.170).

{9} Undated photo;

{8} Detailed description of Romanesque features in church including the north arcade of the nave and the west arch of the tower.

{10} The Church of All Saints, Croughton, shows remains of C12th architecture, with many medieval changes and additions.

{11} This church is as described by authority {10}; in normal use.

{12} [Former list description] Stone, nave and aisle roofs lead, chancel slate. W. tower of 3 stages. N. arcade Transitional, S. arcade late C.13-early C.14, clerestory and roof Perpendicular, some trusses in roof have carved bosses.
There is no chancel arch and the chancel is divided from the nave by a C.14-15 screen with carved frieze and cresting, very similar to that in the church at Hinton in the Hedges. Some of the choir stalls are contemporary with the screen and have carved ends. The altar has C.17 panelling on the surrounding walls, the altar rails are C.18. In the aisles are box pews and the pulpit is early C.17. The font is Norman. The monuments include John Clerke, d. 1603, Corinthian columns, entablature and pediment with coat of arms, William Friend, Rector, d. 1689, with urn and drapery and coat of arms under, and John Max. Del' Angle, 1719

{14} The remains of medieval glass are less exciting than the surviving wall paitings and confined to the chancel east window and the east window of the south aisle.

{16} Notes on the church;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 8/62 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F01 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.601-602 (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.160-62 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<5> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.170-1 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<6> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<7> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<8> King's College, London, 2017, A corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, Site 1032 (Website). SNN110894.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Croughton (Photographs). SNN111616.

<10> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, MHLG list Brackley Rural District 1955 (Report). SNN112993.

<11> Allanson, C D, 1976, Field Investigator's Comments, F1 CDA 07-OCT-76 (Notes). SNN112955.

<12> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE(HHR)District of Brackley Rural District, September 1960 (Report). SNN112993.

<13> Historic England, Undated, All Saints Church, Croughton, BF107289 (Archive). SNN113978.

<14> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 56-7 (Book). SNN101533.

<15> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<16> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/81/1 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 9:35AM