St Andrew

C15-16

the tower windows are late C14 of two traceried lights

The long nave is embattled and has N and S clerestories of the C16 (c.1522) with very depressed headed windows of 3 plain lights

N aisle has very late C15 or early C16 windows with three foiled lights and hood moulds

Chancel E end heavily restored, the E window C19 in a C14 Decorated style, 3 lights with a large cinquefoil, ogees and mouchettes, possibly based on the medieval E window shown mostly blocked in early engravings

The internal core of the church is C14, but the windows are late medieval or C19

A blocked late C12 window is visible inside the tower and also high in the W wall of the nave behind the organ

The nave arcades and chancel arch are of late C14 form, with quatrefoil piers, moulded arches, capitals and bases

The nave clerestory was paid for by Sir Thomas Lovell c.1522, and several of his carved wing and rose badges remain high on the nave walls

The S aisle retains the angel corbels from a medieval roof of a different pitch than the present roof

The N and S aisle walls are panelled to dado height with C19 tiles in a polychrome, geometric pattern, but these have been painted over

The chancel has a C13 trefoil-headed lancet at the E end of the S wall that now opens into the S chapel

The E arch to the N chancel chapel, beyond the arcade, is partially blocked by the large monument to Lady Tiptoft (d. 1446), but the head of arch remains above the canopy of the monument

FITTINGS: Liturgical Fittings: Polygonal stone pulpit of 1866 with Gothic Revival arches, now painted white but possibly originally polychromed, and with a brass dedication plaque

C19 font with diaper carving in S chapel

Roofs: The roofs were all redone in 1866-7 by Sir George Gilbert Scott, but it is likely that the nave and N aisle roofs utilise corbels from the C16 roofs

The nave roof has tie beams with carved spandrels, the E truss painted and gilded

The rest of the floors are largely woodblock parquet, probably C20, but this may cover earlier tiles

Organ: Very fine carved organ case of 1753 by Richard Bridge, and paid for by Mary Nickells, who also paid for an organist

Stained Glass: Most of the glass in the N, W and S sides was destroyed in WWII

In the S aisle, two small panels of C16 work, one the arms of Thomas Roos, 1st Earl of Rutland (d.1531), the other reassembled fragments of the nuns of Holywell weeping for Sir Thomas Lovell (d.1524), who lived at Elysing Hall opposite the church and was responsible for the nave clerestory

Delicate wall painting around the chancel arch of 1923 by Powells as a war memorial for WWI

There is a crucifixion scene above the arch, with the figures of St George and St Andrew below and two panels of poetry

It is likely that a darker, C19 colour scheme, including polychrome tiles at dado level in the nave, survives beneath the present white paint throughout the church as traces of it can be seen where the paint is peeling off

Monuments: The church has a outstanding collection of medieval and post-medieval monuments, including, in an arch between the N chancel and the chancel, Joyce, Lady Tiptoft (d. 1446). Described as the finest brass in Middlesex