Building record 3962/1/1 - Church of All Saints

Parish church with Norman origins. Rebuilt early 14th century. Restored in 1853 and 1869. The north east chapel was reroofed in 1963 after a fire.

{1}Parish church. Norman origin, largely rebuilt early C14, restored 1853 and 1869 by E.F. Law. North-east chapel reroofed after fire of 1963. Coursed squared ironstone with limestone dressings, lead and Collyweston stone slate roofs. West tower, nave with north aisle and south porch, chancel. North-east chapel, vestry to south-east. 3-stage, west tower with set-back buttresses, square-headed lights to first 2 stages and 2-light bell-openings (twin lancets in arched recess) and later limestone castellated parapet with corner pinnacles. Tower west entrance has C19 double doors on decorative hinges in arched opening of 3 chamfered orders. South side of nave buttresses, with sill band, has 2-light traceried windows (each a little different) with hood-moulds. Window to left of porch is square-headed. South porch has coped gable, moulded arched entrance and little 2-light traceried windows (now blocked) to either flank. 3 3-light Perpendicular clerestory windows to south, 3 2-light clerestory windows to north. North aisle has 3 2-light square-headed Perpendicular windows with hood-moulds and head-stops, and a C19 door in arched surround of 2 hollow-chamfered orders. Chancel has parapet gable and a 3-light Decorated style east window. South side of chancel has moulded plinth and a 3-light Decorated style window. Gabled vestry has roof of graduated and shaped stone slabs. North-east chapel has coped gable, limestone plinth, cill band, quoins, a 2-light Decorated window to north and east and a C19 north door in keel-moulded arched surround. Interior: 3-bay north nave arcade of 2 chamfered orders, carried on cylindrical columns with plain capitals. Low, round-headed tower arch (little more than a doorway) with chamfered impost blocks. Organ apparently conceals Norman window above. Tall and slightly stilted chancel arch, with polygonal responds. Arch from aisle to chapel similar, but with semi-cylindrical responds and tall roll-moulded capitals. 2-bay north chancel arcade of 2 chamfered orders with a quatrefoil central pier (with roll-moulded capital) and polygonal responds (with capitals similar to those of chancel arch). Nave roof arch-braced from corbels to tie-beam, north aisle roof of tie-beam trusses, chancel roof arch-braced from corbels to collar, all restored at C19. North-east chapel roof C20. Elaborate and playful Decorated sedilia with nedding ogee hoods with carved figures and beasts between and crocketed gables and pinnacles above. Mostly C19 fittings and stained glass. North-east chapel has late C13 purpeck marble effigy of a bright, traditionally identified as William de Goldingham, d.1296, and alabaster effigy of Sir Thomas Tresham, d.1559, in the dress of Lord Prior of the Knights Hospitallers of St. John of Jerusalem, removed from the church of St. Peter, Rushton, demolished 1799. Vaulted vestry has incomplete transverse chamfered rib on corbel. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire: p397)

{3} The Church of All Saints has the west wall of the nave of Norman origin. The remainder is of 1300-1500 with 1850s restoration.

{7} Six photos of walls around the churchyard, dated 15.06.1995.

{8} SP 8409 8286: All Saints' Church.

{9} A newly discovered crypt is possibly the burial place of Francis Tresham. He was believed to have died a prisoner in the Tower of London, but may have escaped to France. The crypt, which is located beneath the church, was discovered with the aid of optical equipment borrowed from RAF Wittering. It appears to contain a coffin. Work is continuing to try to identify the entrance into the crypt.

{11} Pamphlet, Rushton and its owners;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 13/240 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), J12 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN100754.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.397 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<5> DRAWINGS, (unchecked) (Uncertain). SNN54509.

<6> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<7> Photographs of buildings in Rushton (Photographs). SNN113165.

<8> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<9> 1977, Mystery of The Hidden Crypt, (checked) (Article). SNN107245.

<10> Historic England, All Saints Church, Rushton, BF107403 (Archive). SNN115416.

<11> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 11:34AM