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Enter All Saints by the north door of the nave and you will be struck by the apparent
size of the building. The nave is high, with sixteen clerestory windows glazed by the famous Victorian craftsman C E Kempe. These windows (not the glass!) were added in 1460 by Alice de la Pole, Countess of Suffolk who also added the fine angel roofs which are the church's tour-de-force.
The tower crossing sits beneath 9m arches and contains a stone altar. An organ by
Harrison and Harrison of Durham hangs in the northern arch, built to replace one damaged in the great fire of 1985. Look for the famous Simon and Nelly graffito on the south west pier. The church abounds with mediaeval graffiti.
The south transept Lady Chapel contains more Kempe glass including the four
archangels south window installed after the fire of 1985 after being in store since the war, when it was rescued from a wartime bombed building in the north of England.
The north transept is set apart from the church by a movable wooden screen. It is
used for meetings and for overspill congregations at busy times.
At the east end, Bodley's reredos dominates the view through the mediaeval rood
screen. The angel figures which form parts of the tryptic are Victorian and local, made from beaten leather. The 13th century wooden eagle lectern is thought to be the oldest of its kind. Up the stairs from the sanctuary is a small chapel dedicated to St Hugh of Lincoln. This is used for the daily Eucharist and for private prayer. Public access is from the north side via a first floor corridor.
The church chancel contains many memorials and some fine 14th century
misericords, the provenance of which is unknown, although theories include St Albans Abbey, Chicksands Priory and even Fountains' Abbey in Yorkshire!
All Saints is well known for its fine stained glass. All the chancel and south transept
windows are by Kempe with the recently restored great west window regarded as an outstanding example of his work.
The church contains many other interesting features, not least its font, which belongs
to an earlier church on the site. It is well worth a visit and is open most days. On Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday its coffee shop is open for morning coffee, lunch or afternoon tea. |
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Simon and Nelly Graffito
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South Transept
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The nave looking across to the south
transept |
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Chancel showing misericords, medieval rood screen and tower
altar |
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Above right: Detail
from the clerestory window on the south side. |
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High altar and sanctuary
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Wilkes' 17th C Pulpit.one
of the first uses of American, Eastern cedar |
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A view of All Saints across
the water meadows to the south.
Behind the trees is a river
and beyond that the playing field of Leighton Middle and Pulford Schools |
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< The chancel and Sanctuary
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Outside All Saints
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