St Winifred

Otherwise the church shows a continuous development from the early C12 to the early C17, carefully restored according to SPAB principles circa 1911.

The base of it could be Saxon.

The main part of the tower however is early C12, so too is most of the nave.

Mid C13 transepts but west of the tower, and the nave was lengthened at the same time.

Chancel was rebuilt in the early C14 and there are Decorated windows elsewhere.

The west end was refurbished in the early C17 with a west gallery gained by an external flight of stone steps.

Thus there is here to see Saxon, Norman, Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular styles.

Exterior: the masonry at the base of tower shows herringbone chiselling and is thought by some to be Saxon, and this includes, on the south side, a blocked doorway with monolithic jambs and head.

C15 parapet on top of a Norman corbel table of carved heads.

The main part of the nave also has a Norman corbel table of carved grotesque heads and the C14 extension continues with shaped corbels.

The north side is blind but the south side includes a C13 lancet and a 3-light window with Perpendicular tracery.

To left of them is the gabled south porch with segmental outer arch and behind it the south doorway is a 2- centred arch with chamfered surround and it contains a C17 2-panel door complete with original ferramenta and oak lock housing.

Left (west) of this a flight of stone steps up to the gallery, entered by Tudor arch doorway.

North transept still lit by an original lancet but the south transept has a C14 2-light window with Decorated tracery.

Good interior: nave has a C15 open wagon roof with moulded ribs and purlins and carved oak bosses.

On the south side of the nave the blocked remains of a late Norman doorway is exposed and it has traces of original paint on it.

Most of the window reveals are plain but the east window has half engaged shafts with capitals carved as angels holding shields and the head is moulded.

The south of the sanctuary remains of a good C14 4-step sedilia and piscina with cusped ogee arches.

One arch was replaced in 1911 and another has fragments of a C16 text painted on it.

North transept has a C13 piscina and an aumbry

the oak door of the latter is late C19 but apparently incorporates some C17 carving.

The walls are plastered and the north wall includes a part of the good C16 wall painting supposed to represent the sin of lust.

The altar table is C19 but it is fenced in Laudian style by the C17 oak altar rails with twisted balusters.

Chancel screen at east end of the tower is late C17 and comprises a grille of turned oak balusters on a low Beerstone wall with contemporary double doors.

Good late C17 'three decker' pulpit

Lectern is dated 1912.

At the west end an early C17 oak gallery carried on turned oak posts and panelled oak front enriched with carving.

Do the Tudor roses put this back into the late C16? Good C15 Beerstone font

octagonal bowl with quatrefoil panels enriched with fourleaf motifs and shields, around the bottom a bold wreath of foliage coming from the mouth of a "green man" and stem of blind panels.

There is some C17 furniture, notably a carved oak bench end and a panelled chest inlaid with marquetry.

It is lined with C17 panelling.

Good monuments the oldest is a graveslab erected in the sanctuary.

It is inscribed with a cross and may be C13.

It commemorates Joan Wadham who died 1583.

On it are carved in bas relief her 2 husbands facing each other and kneeling in prayer.

Behind each of them is a smaller figure of Joan and behind each of these her children.

Alongside is simpler copy bearing a coat of arms only and erected in memory of Elias Holcombe who died in 1585.

In the south transept is a good Beerstone monument in memory of Anna Bartlett It comprises a chest tomb carved with cartouches and the lid is supported on pairs of Ionic columns.

The nave includes the 2 impressive Stuckey marble mural monuments with a board painted with their arms between