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Grade I listed

There was probably a church as early as the 7th century, but nothing is known about it.

The church is large and spacious and consists of a long chancel with a south aisle and Lady Chapel built by the Walcot family. The north chapel is now the organ chamber. The church is built of Barnack ragstone and ashlar. There is a western tower and spire, a vestry and a south porch. The nave has north and south aisles with 3 bays, the circular piers have foliated capitals of unusual design

The north nave arcade was built around 1190, and this was followed by the south arcade and a large porch. By the time this was built, most of the Saxon church, except the tower, had disappeared. A Belfry and spire were added to the tower which was strengthened to take the additional weight. Internally, the tower opens to the nave by an impressive round headed archway nearly 20 feet high, one of the most notable of its kind in the country. The south face of the tower has a Saxon sundial.

In the 14th century the chancel was redesigned and completely rebuilt. It was doubled in length and the earlier chancel arch was replaced by a larger one. Most of the fabric remained unaltered until about 1500 when the Lady Chapel was built, possibly replacing a smaller one. It was built by the Walcot family to contain their tombs and as a Chantry. There is a canopied tomb to the Browne or Walcot family from 1520.
The chancel has a piscina and triple sedilia with a carved devils head at each end. There is a Victorian reredos in coloured marble.
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The organ chamber or north Chapel, contains two effigies. The western one is an effigy of a cross-legged knight believed to be Geoffrey de Barnak. It was repaired in 1980.

The south porch dates from the early 13th century and is built around the same time as the south aisle. The interior has a rib vaulted ceiling.

The font also dates from the 13th century.
The chancel has a Memorial to Francis Whitstone who died in 1598. It also features his seven sons, four of whom are carved and the others painted with his family arms above. His wife faces him at a prayer desk, kneeling and wearing a black gown and headdress. Behind her are three daughters two of which have been damaged. The monument is by Thomas Greenway, dated 1612.
There are many other 19th-century monuments.

Created: Wed, 4 Dec 2013, Updated: Wed, 4 Dec 2013