Building record 1160/13/2 - Church of All Saints

The church was refounded as a secular college in 1460, for a warden and fellows, 16 chaplains, and the town's fraternities, so that they could live in common. It was suppressed in 1548. Church rebuilt 1676-80 after much of the earlier church was destroyed by the fire of 1675; architect may have been Henry Bell of Kings Lynn. Fragments of the medieval church survive in a tower as well as a C14th crypt.

{1} Mediaeval origin, fragments of earlier church in tower surviving great fire, and C14th crypt. Rebuilt to design of Henry Jones of Northampton in 1680. Chancel and chapels: square nave with cupola on dome on cross of segemental vaults supported on 4 Ionic columns on pedestals. Western tower with a lantern and wide portico of 8 columns (finished 1701). Ornate plaster ceilings; Corporation pew dated 1680. Font. C18 and C19 wall monuments. Statue on portico of Charles II, 1712 by John Hunt. 1928 refacing of C14 tower.

{3} Church rebuilt 1676-80; architect may have been Henry Bell of Kings Lynn; portico was added to front of new tower & its flanking rooms in 1701; in middle of portico stands statue of Charles II by John Hunt; motif of portico comes from Inigo Jones' former west portico of St Paul's but on smaller scale; church itself in form of square composed on pattern of Wren's St Mary-at-Hill with domed central space with 4 arms of equal length & height; chancel was redecorated in 1888 by E.F.Law in imitation of original style but grander; church was admired in late C17th as stateliest of its date outside London; details of internal fittings & monuments given;Façade surrounding clock on All Saints Church is dated 1829;Henry Bell certainly associated with rebuilding work; document records appointment of Henry Bell & Edward Edwards as 2 experienced surveyors then residing in Northampton as managers of work on church to which was allocated 10% of money collected for rebuilding of town after fire of 1675;Present building erected 1676-80 in Renaissance style of time; comprises chancel & rectangular nave & west tower flanked by north & south transepts; stands on site of chancel of medieval church; new church was opened in September 1680 but not completed in present form until beginning of C18th; great west portico was erected in 1701 & cupola & vane added to tower in 1704; church partially restored in 1840 & more extensively in 1865-6; in 1920 War Memorial chapel built on south side; phased ground plan; church plan said to follow Greek Cross plan used by Wren at St Mary-at-Hill; more details of architecture & monuments given;Restoration work on later church in 1865-6 revealed much intra-mural burial; graves were arched over or covered with stone slabs & whole area within walls covered with bed of concrete; small crypt or bonehouse found under middle part of south aisle was filled up at this time;Romanesque church built 1680 to replace earlier; portico built in favourite style of Wren school of architects; extends whole width of church & surrounds central statue of Charles II dressed in Roman costume; no further architectural detail given but details of internal fittings & monuments are given;

{9} The King made donations for rebuilding after the Great Fire of Northampton and his statue now adorns the portico of All Saints church in gratitude.

{11}Rebuilt in classical style after 1675;central tower now at west end survived the fire;portico surmounted by statue of Charles II;domed interior with plasterwork,galleries,mayoral chair and pew;

{13}Depicts the medieval church has a cruciform with a central tower;

{14}church existence known by 1107 as mentioned in the charter to St Andrew's Priory;{22}organ chamber was built in 1883 with detailing to the C17th fabric;

{19}Records a meeting on 18 January 1676/7 to the agreement of Henry Bell and Edward Edwards, experienced surveyors now residing in the town;

{24}Features;1981;All Saints Church;watching brief during organ construction;doorpost & foundation trenches;poss for chancel or crypt wall;poss brick vault below floor level;inside nave to E of W door along main aisle were 2 brick lined vaults;1 to S with wooden bronze-studded coffin;lime burial;finds of brick frags from vault & 1 child's leather sole & 3 Med pot sherds;

{25}Church building of medieval origin; fragments of earlier church surviving Great Fire incorporated in tower; also C14th crypt; rebuilt to design of Henry Jones of Northampton in 1680; chancel & chapels; square nave with cupola on dome on cross of segmental vaults supported on 4 Ionic columns on pedestals; western tower with lantern & wide portico of 8 columns (with statute of Charles II dated 1712) was completed in 1701; ornate plaster ceilings; 1928 refacing of top part of C14th tower;

{26} A service trench was hand-excavated along the N side of the church. Aside from a large number of modern service trenches, particularly towards the W end, only one certain archaeological feature was observed: a clear grave cut, whose fill contained 19th-20th century pottery; a second, possible, grave cut was also noted.

Church of All Saints stands in centre of town on island bounded by Mercer's Row & George Row & The Drapery & Wood Hill;In 1084 Simon de St Liz & his young wife Maud granted Church of All Saints & other 9 churches of town..to priory of St &rew; in 1245 Henry gave 10 marks to purchase books for library & chalice for reception of blessed sacrament to Church of All Saints;In 1239 Richard Earl of Cornwall & many barons disgusted with King's partiality for foreigners determined to quit kingdom & go on crusade; they assembled at Northampton & were doubtless accommodated in castle; from there they adjourned to church of All Saints & laying hands solemnly on high altar swore to go straight to Holy Land;

{28} Present building erected 1676-80 in Renaissance style of time; comprises chancel & rectangular nave & west tower flanked by north & south transepts; stands on site of chancel of medieval church; new church was opened in September 1680 but not completed in present form until beginning of C18th; great west portico was erected in 1701 & cupola & vane added to tower in 1704; church partially restored in 1840 & more extensively in 1865-6; in 1920 War Memorial chapel built on south side; phased ground plan; church plan said to follow Greek Cross plan used by Wren at St Mary-at-Hill; more details of architecture & monuments given;

{29}Restoration work on later church in 1865-6 revealed much intra-mural burial; graves were arched over or covered with stone slabs & whole area within walls covered with bed of concrete; small crypt or bonehouse found under middle part of south aisle was filled up at this time;

{30}Church rebuilt 1676-80; architect may have been Henry Bell of Kings Lynn; portico was added to front of new tower & its flanking rooms in 1701; in middle of portico stands statue of Charles II by John Hunt; motif of portico comes from Inigo Jones' former west portico of St Paul's but on smaller scale; church itself in form of square composed on pattern of Wren's St Mary-at-Hill with domed central space with 4 arms of equal length & height; chancel was redecorated in 1888 by E.F.Law in imitation of original style but grander; church was admired in late C17th as stateliest of its date outside London; details of internal fittings & monuments given;

{31}Henry Bell certainly associated with rebuilding work; document records appointment of Henry Bell & Edward Edwards as 2 experienced surveyors then residing in Northampton as managers of work on church to which was allocated 10% of money collected for rebuilding of town after fire of 1675;

{37} (SP 75456045) All Saints' Church (C of E) (NAT)

{39} Sketches, notes, coats of arms, pamphlets, photos, plans, sections, drawings, measurements;

{40} Watching brief undertaken in 1981 notes a plain doorpost; bottom of post is c0.2m above the concrete floor level in basement, quite a long way above the crypt floor.

{41} The facade surrounding the clock on All Saints Church is dated 1829.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 3/1 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.441-44 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.317-19 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Royal Commission on The Historical Monuments of England, 1985, An Inventory of The Historical Monuments in The County of Northampton, p.344-53 (unchecked) (Series). SNN77383.

<5> MOORE W.R.G., 1974, Survey of Northampton Datestones, 80-1 (checked) (Article). SNN40535.

<6> Wetton, 1849, Guidebook to Northampton and its Vicinity, p.67-70+plate (checked) (Book). SNN1032.

<8> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<9> Northamptonshire Record Office, 2009-12, Northamptonshire Archives and Heritage Service Newsletter, p.3 (unchecked) (Newsletter). SNN106548.

<10> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<11> Northampton & County Junior Chamber of Commerce, Northampton: A Short Guide, (unchecked) (Guide). SNN628.

<13> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN559.

<14> BL ROYAL, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1086.

<15> FRANKLIN M.J., 1982, MINSTERS AND PARISHES: NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STUDIES, 92 (Thesis). SNN56828.

<16> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection (Northamptonshire Record Office), (unchecked) (Archive). SNN56829.

<17> LAW E.F., 1865, Untitled Source, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN56830.

<18> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1901, HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, 245-6 (Uncertain). SNN56831.

<19> Speed J., 1610, Map of Northamptonshire, (checked) (Map). SNN559.

<20> Colvin H., 1995, A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects (1660-1840), 105 (Book). SNN54451.

<21> BLACKAMORE J., DRAWINGS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN1201.

<22> LAW E.F., 1882, ALL SAINTS 223P/170, ALL SAINTS 223P/170 (Document). SNN1202.

<23> LAW E.F., 1888, ALL SAINTS 223P/171, ALL SAINTS 223P/171 (Document). SNN1085.

<24> Williams J.H.; Shaw M.; Hardy S., 1978-1984, Northampton Development Corporation SMR Secondary Record Sheets, M190 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN108.

<25> Department of the Environment (DoE), 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, p.1 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN3381.

<26> Ivens R J., 2008, An Archaeological Watching Brief at The Church of All Saints, Northampton, Northamptonshire (Report). SNN106100.

<27> Bailey, B, Pevsner, N, and Cherry, B, 2013, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p. 432-5 (Book). SNN111989.

<28> Serjeantson R.M., 1907, The Castle of Northampton, p.20 (checked) (Article). SNN4129.

<29> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.48-51 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<30> Whellan, 1874, History, Topography & Directory of Northamptonshire, p.100-121; Handwritten notes in NDC SMR File M190;; (unchecked) (Book). SNN1002.

<31> Ivens R J., 2008, An Archaeological Watching Brief at The Church of All Saints, Northampton, Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Report). SNN106100.

<32> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.6 (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<33> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<34> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire- The Borough of Northampton, p.48-51 (checked) (Series). SNN100370.

<35> SERJEANTSON R.M., 1901, HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ALL SAINTS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN44553.

<36> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest, DOE(HHR) Dist.of Northampton Northants. Jan. 1976 1 (Report). SNN112993.

<37> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 1:2500 1964 (Map). SNN112944.

<38> Undated, All Saints Church, Northampton, BF111671 (Archive). SNN113649.

<39> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/198/102-171, 173-188,707,708 (Archive). SNN115.

<40> Northampton Development Corporation Archaeology Unit, 1981, All Saints Church, watching brief, 1981 (Note). SNN116722.

<41> MOORE W.R.G., 1974, Survey of Northampton Datestones, p. 80 (Article). SNN40535.

Record last edited

Mar 31 2025 12:44PM