Building record 6121/1/1 - Church of St. Nicholas

Church built in the 14th century with 15th century additions, the building was restored in 1854-55 and the vestry was added in 1881. Built of squared coursed limestone with ashlar dressings, tower and spire, and lead roofs. The church consists of an aisled nave, chancel, north vestry, south porch and west tower.

{1} Church. C14 and C15, restored 1854-55, vestry added 1881. Squared coursed limestone with ashlar dressings, tower and spire. Lead roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, north vestry, south porch and west tower. South elevation of chancel of 2-window range of 3-light Perpendicular windows with 4-centred arch heads. 2-stage buttress between windows and at corner. Priest door to left of centre has roll moulding and 4-centred arch head. Shallow gabled roof with ashlar parapet and central gargoyle. 5-light Perp ndicular east window with hollow reveals and 4-centred arch head. Ashlar gabled parapet above with finial. North elevation of chancel is similar to south but with a C19 lean-to vestry between the windows. Vestry has 2-light Perpendicular style east window. South aisle of 3-window range of 3-light Perpendicular windows with hollow reveals and 4-centred arch head. 2-stage buttresses between windows. Lean-to roof with ashlar parapets and 3 gargoyles. Similar Perpendicular 3-light east and west windows. Gabled porch to left of centre has roll-moulded outer arch with semi-circular responds and a roll-moulded inner arch. Both have niches with C20 figures above. Return walls of porch have 2-light windows set in internal arched recesses on inside. North aisle of 4 bays, 3-window range of 3-light Perpendicular windows with hollow reveals and 4-centred arch heads. Bay to right of centre has north doorway with moulded stone surround. 2-stage buttresses between bays. Lean-to roof with ashlar ga le parapets and 2 gargoyles. Similar 3-light Perpendicular east and west windows. Nave clerestory of 4-window range of 2-light Perpendicular windows with hollow reveals and 4-centred arch heads. Shallow gable roof with ashlar parapets and finial and 4 gargoyles to each elevation. West tower of 4 stages with plinth, the upper stage is subdivided. Shallow ashlar angle buttresses. Perpendicular west doorway with ogee-head surround and quatrefoils in the spandrels. 3-light window above with ogee- ead hood mould. Quatrefoil windows with square surround to north, south and west faces of third stage. Fourth stage is ashlar with 2-light bell-chamber openings to each face. Each has stone lattice work panels in the lights and an ogee-head hood mould. Quatrefoil frieze with diamond panels, above, and gargoyles at corners. Set back ashlar spire with crockets and 2 tiers of lucarnes. Interior: 4-bay nave arcade of Perpendicular arches with piers formed of chamfered projections to nave and aisl s without capitals, and slim shafts with capitals to openings. Ogee-head hood mouldings to each arch. Double-chamfered and moulded chancel arch with semi-circular responds and similar, tall, tower arch. All windows set in arch-head recesses with low cills. C19 roof structures all with original angel and saints' head corbels. Fragments of Perpendicular roof structure are reset at east end of chancel roof. Piscina to right of altar with corner shaft and openings in 2 directions. Early C20 chanc l screen, rood figures and chancel furnishings by Temple Moore. Holy water stoup with shallow vaulted niche to right of south door. Octagonal font with C18 cover. Monuments: Dame Mary Washington died 1624 and Catherine Curtis died 1626. Identical arch-head tablets, with detached columns supporting entablature, on north and south walls of chancel. John Nicholl and wife. Pair of brasses, with ogee-head surrounds, in chancel floor, reconstructed early C20 by Reverend H. Macklin. Elizabeth Hargreav s died 1791 inscribed tablet above north door. Reverend R.M. Vane died 1842 inscribed tablet above south door. Fragments of pre-C19 glass. C19 stained glass: 3 east windows, south chancel window and west tower window. Chancel east window by Kempe and north aisle east window by Clayton and Bell.

{6} Undated photo.

{10} A significant collection of medieval glass was recorded here by antiquaries into the C18. Today only three small pieces survive.

{11} Sketch of church, copy of memorial to Rector Nicholas Francis Lightfoot;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 15/51 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G08 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN41470.

<3> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<4> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.269 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<5> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches, (unchecked) (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Islip (Photographs). SNN112820.

<7> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.240-41 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<8> Page W. (ed), 1930, The Victoria History of the Counties of England: Northamptonshire, p.215 (unchecked) (Series). SNN100370.

<9> Historic England, St Nicholas's Church, Islip, BF044016 (Archive). SNN115172.

<10> Marks R., 1998, Stained Glass Of Northamptonshire, p. 111 (Book). SNN101533.

<11> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/162/1,2 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 1:01PM