Building record 687/1/1 - Church of St. Helen

A 13th and 14th century church with south aisle and porch added and church restored circa 1862-63 by Browning. It is of squared coursed lias and cobble with a slate roof laid to diminishing courses. The church comprises an aisled nave and chancel and west tower.

{1} Church. C13 and C14. South aisle and porch added and church restored c.1862-63 by Browning. Squared coursed lias and cobble with slate roof laid to diminishing courses. Aisled nave and chancel and west tower. Chancel: South elevation of 2-window range of 2-light windows with south door between. 3-light east window has Intersecting tracery. Gabled roof with ashlar parapets and finial. South aisle of 3-window range of 2-light windows with Plate tracery. Similar 3-light east window. Lean-to roof with ashlar parapets and kneelers. Porch to far left has C14 four-centred inner arch and C19 double-chamfered outer arch. Gabled roof with ashlar parapets and kneelers and finial. North aisle and chapel of 2-window range of 2- and 3-light Perpendicular windows under 4-centred arches. North door between windows has 4-centred arch with decorated spandrels. 3-light Perpendicular east window. Gabled and lean-to roofs with ashlar parapets. One bay north elevation to west end of nave has late C13 two-light window and evidence of blocked window at junction of north aisle. Shallow pitched nave roof has moulded ashlar parapet. West tower, probably C14, of 2 stages with clasping buttresses at western corners. West door under 4-centred arch has 2-light window above. 2-light bell chamber openings to each face of second stage. Plain ashlar parapet above. Interior: C14 double-chamfered chancel arch with octagonal responds. Nave: South arcade of 4 bays of C19 double-chamfered arches with circular piers and foliated capitals. The western bay of the arcade is smaller with a square pier and forms part of integral south porch. North nave arcade of 2 bays of C14 double-chamfered arches with octagonal responds separated by a section of blank wall. Two C19 openings from the nave into the north chapel, now a vestry. C14 double-chamfered tower arch. C19 roof structures. C19 stained glass to all chancel windows, north-aisle north-east window and tower west window. Monuments: West wall of north aisle to Ambrose Saunders died 1765, marble tablet with flanking pilasters and open pediment over. C19 decorative tiled floor, C19 pulpit supported on 7 marble pillars has staircase to rear with tiled walls. Fragment of rood screen carving now over south chancel door is decorated with twisted branches and crocketing. Font C19 with marble pillars. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.403).

{5} Church. 13th and 14th century. South aisle and porch added and church restored c.1862-3.

{6} Undated photo.

{7} (SP 6815 8276) St Helen's Church.

{9} Tracings of shields;

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 4/86 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), G03 p. 29 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN44900.

<3> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.75-77 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

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

<5> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.403 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<6> Photographs of buildings in Sibbertoft (Photographs). SNN113231.

<7> Ordnance Survey Map (Scale/date), OS 6" 1958 (Map). SNN112944.

<8> Historic England, St Helens Church, Sibbertoft, BF107416 (Archive). SNN115490.

<9> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/237/1-3 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 2:13PM