Building record 3676/1/1 - St Andrew's Church, Cransley

Church built in the early 14th century, with 15th century additions. Restored in the early 18th century and in 1870 by Slater and Carpenter. Built of ironstone and limestone ashlar with limestone dressings, and lead and stone slate roofs. The church consists of a west tower with spire, nave with aisles, chancel and south porch.

{1} Parish Church. Early C14 and C15 restored early C18 and 1870 by Slater and Carpenter. Ironstone and limestone ashlar with limestone dressings, lead and stone slate roofs. West tower with spire, nave with aisles, chancel, south porch. C15 west tower, 4 stages, has clasping buttresses with 4 set-offs, moulded plinth and string courses, quatrefoil frieze, crenellated parapet and 4 crocketed pinnacles. First stage has to west a moulded doorway with flat hood mould and traceried spandrels. Second stage has, to west, an ogee headed triple lancet with Decorated tracery and hood mould. Third stage has, to north, a clock. Fourth stage has on each side a pair of ogee headed transomed double bell-chamber openings with hood moulds. Setback octagonal spire has 2 tiers of gabled lucarnes on the same faces, with double and single lancets. Above, finial and weathercock. Nave has moulded eaves, parapet and gable with cross. Clerestory has on each side 6 cusped untraceried double lancets with hood mould North side has a lead rainwater head inscribed "R G 1702" and another inscribed 'T L'. South side has similar rainwater head inscribed "W O 1713". North aisle, C15, 3 bays, has chamfered plinth, moulded parapet and sill band, and 2 diagonal buttresses. West end has a Decorated double lancet and to its left a tablet, 1813, with drip mould. North side has 2 C15 untraceried 3-light windows with Tudor arched heads. East end has a similar window. All the windows have hood moulds. Similar south aisle, early C14, 3 bays, has a continuous hood mould and 2 angle buttresses with 2 set-offs. East end has a Geometrical triple lancet. South side has a Y-traceried double lancet on each side of the porch and to their right a C15 untraceried triple lancet. The west end had a similar triple lancet. All these windows have hood moulds. 2-bay chancel has moulded sill band, eaves and parapet plus east gable with cross. North side has an off-centre roll moulded C14 doorway flanked by single cusped untraceried triple lancets, restored. The south side has a central buttress, with 2 set-offs, flanked by single triple lancets like those to north, restored. East end has to left an angle buttress, with 2 set-offs. Ogee reticulated quadruple lancet, 1870, by Slater and Carpenter. All the windows have hood moulds. C14 south porch, restored, has coped gable with finial and cross, moulded and rebated doorway with octagonal responds, hood mould and mask stops. In each side, a quatrefoil in a square surround. The interior has various re-set crosses and worked stones and C20 roof. Moulded early C14 inner doorway with hood mould and mask stops. Interior: Plain triple chamfered C15 tower arch. Tower chamber has a round headed niche to north and south and a stained glass west window c 1941. North arcade, 4 bays, has octagonal piers and responds with ballflower enriched capitals. Similar south arcade has plain capitals. Double chamfered and rebated arches have hood moulds with mask stops. Above, moulded sill band and moulded clerestory window openings. C15 roof with moulded tie-beams, arch braces, angel corbels, lengthwise arch braces and moulded purlins. North aisle west end has panelled screen, 1914, and east end has organ case with show pipes. C15 roof with cambered tie-beams, arch braces and angel corbels. South aisle east end has stained glass window, 1908. South side has to east, a cove moulded C14 piscina. To its right, a C14 tomb recess. South east window has stained glass, 1939. West end window has C14 stained glass fragments with cranes and crest. C15 roof with moulded tie-beams, mask bosses, arch braces, wall shafts and angel corbels. Chancel has a C14 double chamfered arch with triple shaft responds. North side has to east a mid C14 tomb recess. East window has stained glass by Kempe, 1900. South side has to east a rebated aumbry and restored C14 piscina. To their right, an C14 triple sedilia with filleted double shafts. C15 roof has moulded purlins and tie-beams with bosses. Fittings include C19 stalls, benches, wooden gradine and octagonal pulpit and font. Remarkable C18 gadrooned baluster shaped font. Mouments include late C15 floor brass in pedimented alabaster surround, 1589, brass with crest, 1602. Renaissance revival style tablet to Susanna Robinson 1714, with verse by the deceased. Several C18 and C19 marble and slate tablets. War memorials, 1918 and 1945.

{8} The church contains fabric from the C12th onwards.

{10} Ground plan of church by W Slater and R H Carpenter, 1868-70.

{12} The medieval glass has been collected in the west window of the south aisle and consists of the remains of a heraldic series, which was much more extensive in the early C17.

{13} Drawing of stained glass;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 5/21 (checked) (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), K1/3 p.14-15 (checked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.168-9 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.491-92 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<5> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, 43 p.1-3 (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<6> Baker G., 1822-36, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Book). SNN10400.

<7> The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, (unchecked) (Series). SNN10247.

<8> Slatcher D., 1999, A Desk-Based Archaeological Assessment On The Line Of The Requisitioned Sewer At Mawsley New Village, Cransley, Northamptonshire, p.7 (checked) (Report). SNN100008.

<9> Historic England, Undated, St Andrew's Church, Great Cransley, BF107286 (Archive). SNN115751.

<10> Lambeth Palace Library, Incorporated Church Building Society Archive, ICBS06958 (Digital archive). SNN115761.

<11> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<12> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 88-89 (Book). SNN101533.

<13> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/78/1 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 11:22AM