Building record 1683/2 - Newton Field Centre (St Faith's Church)

Former church built in the 14th century with a 15th century tower and a chancel of 1858 by William Slater. The building was converted to a field centre between 1958 and 1992. Built of coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings and an ashlar tower and spire, the roofs are of Collyweston stone slate with coped gables. Now a field study centre.

{1} Parish church, now field centre. C14 with C15 tower and chancel of 1858 by William Slater, converted to field centre C20. Coursed limestone rubble with ashlar dressings ashlar tower and spire, Collyweston stone slate roofs with coped gables. West tower and spire, nave with south porch, chancel. 2-stage west tower with diagonal buttresses and parapet. 2-light bell stage windows with transom, 4-centred heads and hood-moulds. West side also has traceried oculus in lower stage. Spire has finial, weathervane (dated 1981) and 2 tiers of lucarnes. South side of nave has gabled porch (arched entrance with C20 double doors) and 2 2-light Decorated windows with hood-moulds. Parapet. Buttress at east end. Decorated style 2-bay chancel has 2-light traceried windows. Buttressed east end has 3-light Decorated style east window. North side of chancel as south, but with flat-roofed ?boiler house with chimney between windows. North side of nave has 3 2-light Decorated windows (westernmost now has fire escape balcony) and blocked arched entrance. Brick parapet. Interior: C19 roofs. All fittings removed and western part of nave divided horizontally to provide gallery for dormitory accommodation.

{3}Excavation; medieval church of St Faith's, Little Newton; stone walls of 13th century building, earth floors, painted wall plaster and painted glass;

{4}The isolated position of the Church of St Faith at Newton, 250m to the east of the village represents a classic case of settlment shift? The church of St Faith is the Church of the now vanished village of Little Newton. In 1969, ten years after the church became redundant, around 40% of the nave was excavated. The earliest evidence suggests that the church was in use by at least 1300-1350. This date may suggest that it was a chapel to the Chokes manor built after Henry de Tichmersh consolidated the Huntingdon fee manors sometime shortly before 1315.

{5} Excavation was undertaken of the redundant church in 1969 to establish the plan of the medieval building. The earliest phase dated to the 13th-14th centuries and was a simple rectangular building with a hearth at the south-west. A tower and spire were probably added after 1449. The body of the church was completely rebuilt in 1858 and a chancel and north vestry built. Although the excavations showed the gravestones were not placed directly over their respective graves, some of the burials were named including that of Joan Mulsho, died 1400, Richard Tresham who died in the 16th century and possibly three members of the Basset family buried in the 18th/19th century.

{7} The Vicar of Geddington stated that services were last held in this church in 1958 (the last congregation numbering 1) and that there was no possibility of the church being used again in the forseeable future. Vandals have broken pews, glass and stone and have stolen church furniture (including the bell from the tower). It is hoped to have the present remains scheduled and preserved but as the major portion of the fabric is 19th century there seems little hope of this being done. See photograph.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 12/177 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

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

<3> Brown, A.E. (Ed.), 1970, Archaeology in Northamptonshire 1969 (Medieval), 4/19 (Article). SNN30971.

<4> Bellamy B, 1996-7, Little Newton a Central Northamptonshire Deserted Village, p200 (Article). SNN104080.

<5> Hall, D N & Hutchings, J B, 1970, Excavations at Newton Willows Church, 1969-, p.16-36 (unchecked) (Journal). SNN29195.

<6> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<7> Colquhoun, FD, 1969, Field investigators comments, F1 FDC 07-AUG-1969 (Notes). SNN112950.

<8> Historic England, Undated, St Faith's Church, Newton, BF052048 (Archive). SNN114312.

Record last edited

Dec 20 2023 4:24PM