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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

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