Description

TF 26 SW HALTHAM CHURCH LANE
(west side)

2/12 Church of
14.9.66 St. Benedict

G.V. I

Parish church, now vested in the Redundant Churches fund. Early
C12, late C12, late C13, C14, C15, restored 1880 and 1891.
Squared greenstone coursed rubble with limestone ashlar
dressings, red brick patching and gables, slate roofs, timber
boarded belfry. Nave, with bellcote turret, chancel, south
porch, north aisle. C14 west door with wave moulded surround,
altered to round head when C15 3 light window was inserted above,
2 re-set medieval stone heads in the rebuilt brick gable. The
west wall of the north aisle has a 2 light C15 window and in the
north wall a further 2 light and a 3 light window, all with
cusped tracery. Also in the north wall is a blocked pointed
doorway with re-set head. On the west end of the nave a low
weatherboarded square belfry having single low pointed lights to
the sides and a low pyramidal slate roof. In the east wall of
the aisle a further 3 light window. The north wall of the
chancel has 2 blocked C14 ogee lights with beyond single 2 and 3
light windows, both with cusped ogee heads. C14 east chancel
window is elaborate, of 4 lights with a thicker central mullion
which bifurcates to form the arched tops of the pairs of lights
and also continues into curved mouchettes. In the heads of the
lights are cusped quatrefoils. The whole is set in a chamfered
surround with moulded hood. The chancel south wall has single 2
and 3 light windows matching those to the north, an ogee headed
doorway and 2 lower ogee lights. In the nave south wall is a 2
light late C13 Y traceried window. C14 gabled south porch has
stepped angle buttresses, with crocketed pinnacles, continuously
moulded outer arch. The inner arch has chamfered reveals and a
re-set early C12 round arched head, with 3 orders of roll
moulding and a tympanum carved with a Maltese Cross in circle
with to left a fan shaped shell and to right a knot in circle
against a panel of diapers. Interior. The north arcade has 2
late C12 round headed bays with octagonal piers, foliate
capitals, double chamfered arches, and to the west a further
double chamfered pointed bay, probably C13, with an annular
respond. C19 pointed chancel arch. At the west end of the nave
is a probably C15 square timber framed belfry having curved
braces, chamfered principles, of 2 stages. Access to the bell
chamber is provided by a possibly contemporary ladder. The
framing has been repaired later with diagonal stiffening members
coach bolted to the earlier frame. In the chancel are 4 statue
brackets, a C14 angle piscina having 2 cusped ogee arches
springing from an octagonal shaft and an aumbry in the south
wall. Fittings. An impressive collection of woodwork comprising
re-set elements of the C15 screen having cusped ogee arches with
panel travery and 2 large family pews to the north and east sides
of the north aisle are constructed of C15 woodwork. They have
massive sleeper beams from which rise panels containing blank
cusped ogee arches, above are paired lights, now with missing
mullions replaced by later pendants, above which are pierced
cusped heads and a coved and brattished cornice. Panelled C18
pulpit has a tester and below it are seats in boxes made from re-
used C17 wainscotting. C19 pews have re-used C16 ends and some
back panels with florate terminals. The sides of the belfry are
planked, the lower parts renewed C19 but above a panel retains
painted arms of Charles I, and painted texts. C14 octagonal font
with shaped base, fleurons to the sides of the bowl and moulded
rim, also with foliage.

Listing NGR: TF2461063842

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Benedict's Church, Haltham-on-Bain at Wikipedia
• St Benedict's Church, Haltham-on-Bain official website
• Wikidata Q7592637

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Surrey (The Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair by Hunt. Roger ( 2008 ) Hardcover
• 
  Herefordshire (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Building Small Projects (New Best of Fine Woodworking)
• 
  Bedfordshire, Huntingdonshire, and Peterborough (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)