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Originally a medieval church it is now dominated by a fine and lofty tower of enriched perpendicular style, built as late as 1519 by Anthony Ellys, wool merchant of the staple of Calais, who lived in his manor house, adjacent to the church. The tower has double buttresses, relieved by richly decorated canopied niches. Over the base mouldings is a band of quatrefoil work with shields bearing a ship, woolsack surmounted by a Christian symbol and other devices, and over the belfry is a similar band. The whole thing is finished with an elaborately panelled parapet and crocketted pinnacles. On the west face of the tower are the Royal Arms and supporters surmounted by a crown, and on the three outer faces the legend “THYNKE AND THANKYE GOD OF ALL”. The tower is Anthony Ellys’ thank-offering to God.
The oldest part of the church is the 13th/14th century chancel. The font is reputed to be Norman and stands lower than most fonts do. The south porch was rebuilt in the 13th century.
Visitors to the church show considerable interest in the unique weather vane in the shape of a fiddle. Legend has it that many years ago a fiddler used to visit the village and play to entertain the villagers. When he announced his intention of going to America to the villagers they paid his fare. In America he made his fortune and when he returned he had the weather vane erected as a memento. The fiddle is attached to one of the eight crocketted pinnacles of the tower. It revolves on an old ginger beer bottle marble. After it blew down and had to be refixed it was found to be weathered to the thinness of brown paper.

Created: Thu, 30 Aug 2012, Updated: Tue, 11 Sep 2018