Monument record HTC 016 - Church of All Saints

Please read our .

Summary

The church of All Saints is within the diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, the archdeaconry of Sudbury, and deanery of Lavenham.

Location

Grid reference Centred TL 98478 51099 (107m by 106m)
Map sheet TL95SE
Civil Parish HITCHAM, BABERGH, SUFFOLK

Map

Type and Period (1)

Full Description

The church of All Saints is within the diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich, the archdeaconry of Sudbury, and deanery of Lavenham. Status: rectory (S1). The structure is: chancel, nave, clerestory, N aisle, S aisle, S porch, embattled W tower (S2). The chancel is Decorated with many later insertions. During the restoration of 1878 the E and S walls of the chancel had to be taken down but they were rebuilt in the style of the original work. Remains of the old E window were found built up in the E wall at the time. The piscina in the chancel has a crocketted canopy. The lower part of the early C16 rood screen remains, its 8 panels are painted with angels bearing instruments of the passion. The nave is Decorated and the clerestory, with 4 small quatrefoil windows on each side of the nave, is early C15. The nave roof is early C17 of Spanish chestnut : double hammer-beams alternate with arched braces masquerading as hammer-beams. Against the lower hammer-beam ends are big emblems such as roses, shields and a sun with crowns over it. The initials JR appear upon the central hammer-beam; this indicates the nave roof was started in the reign of James I. The arcades are probably C14 and consist of 5 bays with octagonal piers and double chamfered arches. The font is a stone octagon with a decoration of vine branch, leaves and grapes on the bowl. The windows in the S aisle are Decorated with segmental heads. In the S wall, at the E end of the S aisle, is a small piscina. A small water stoup is contained in a half pillar at the E end of the N aisle. The aisle roofs are Perpendicular "lean-to" roofs with bosses and date from the early C17. The initials CR appear on the roof at the E end of the N aisle : this indicates the completion of the N aisle roof in the reign of Charles I. The flint tower is square with buttresses and in the Perpendicular style. As at Cockfield, the E buttresses of the tower rise from the floor and overlap the W arches of the nave. This is a sure sign of the independent existence of the tower before the nave was extended W to its present extent. The S porch is Perpendicular and has flushwork panelling : it is very similar to the porch at Bildeston. The outer arch is carved with various devices, over it is a niche with a square-headed canopy. In the buttresses at the angles are two similar niches. The S porch was restored in circa 1888. The S doors are traceried and have a typical band of carved trail ornament surrounding them (S2).

Sources/Archives (3)

  • <S1> (No record type): SAU, Suff Parishes, A Guide to their Archaeol & Hist, 1984-1985, ms.
  • <R1> Bibliographic reference: Cautley H M. 1975. Suffolk Churches. Cautley H, Suffolk Churches, 1937, 296.
  • <S2> (No record type): SAU (Atkinson RG), Summary of Doc Sources for Churches in Suff, 1986, ms.

Finds (0)

Protected Status/Designation

  • None recorded

Related Monuments/Buildings (0)

Related Events/Activities (0)

Record last edited

Jun 6 2007 5:33PM

Comments and Feedback

Do you have any more information about this record? Please feel free to comment with information and photographs, or ask any questions, using the "Disqus" tool below. Comments are moderated, and we aim to respond/publish as soon as possible.