Description

TM 48 SE
1/61
27/11/54

WRENTHAM
CHURCH STREET
Church of St. Nicholas

GV
I

Parish church. Medieval; restored mid C19, the north aisle being added in
1853; chancel restored 1932. Nave, chancel, north and south aisles, west
tower, south porch. Random flint rubble, mostly rendered except for the
tower; stone dressings; slated roof to nave, plaintiled roof to chancel with
modern sealant. Fine C15 tower, faced in knapped flint: 4 stages, with
diagonal buttresses and crenellated parapet, both enriched with flushwork;
around the plinth is a stone frieze with lozenges and blank shields. The west
doorway has a moulded surround with carved spandrels and flanking canopied
niches; large 4-light west window. In the third stage are square openings
with a tracery grill; 2-light bell chamber openings. 3-bay aisles. Late
C14/early C15 south aisle with original windows; the north aisle has some re-
used windows of C14-C15. Late C15 porch, faced with knapped flint and with
flushwork panels to the facade; crenellated parapet. C13 chancel,
considerably restored: 2 tall lancet windows and one Perpendicular window to
north and south; 5-light east window. Interior 3-bay aisle arcades, the north
arcade of 1853 matching the south; the north aisle has half-piers against the
north wall, with timber posts being added in the south aisle to match: both
have east-west arched-bracing along the wall. C19 roofs. Wide chancel
without a chancel arch. Trefoil-headed piscinas in south aisle and south
sanctuary. Niche for banner stave locker at west end of south aisle. C19
font in nave; at the east end of the north aisle is a C15 carved octagonal
font bowl, damaged but with traces of original colouring: this was discovered
in the rectory garden. C19 furnishings. C17 wall monument in north chancel
to members of the Skippon family. 2 effigy brasses: Ele Bowet (c.1400) in
chancel floor, Humphrye Brewster (1593) re-mounted on north chancel wall.
Several C17-C18 ledger slabs of Brewster family in sanctuary; 2 Brewster
hatchments south of tower arch. Arms of William IV painted on boards in apex
of roof at entrance to chancel.

Listing NGR: TM4890783015

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• Wikidata Q17527427

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

• 
  Essex: Buildings of England Series (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  For the Record
• 
  Somerset: North and Bristol: The Buildings of England (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Maintaining and Repairing Old Houses: A Guide to Conservation, Sustainability and Economy
• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version