Nominal: 800 Hz Weight: 1176 lbs Diameter: 38" Bell 1 of 6
Founded by Thomas Newman 1741
Dove Bell ID: 5573 Tower ID: 10728 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: eighth Cracked: No
Rickinghall: Old St Mary
Overview
Grid reference: TM 40 745
The nave is distinguished for three reasons. First it is long, broad and light, making a well proportioned room; secondly there is particularly refined tracery in the windows; and thirdly the exterior of the walls is decorated with flush work of the highest quality.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, four-bay nave without aisles but with a south porch; chancel.
Description of Archaeology and History
The chancel and tower are fourteenth-century; the nave was rebuilt in the fifteenth century, as was the south porch. The church was restored in 1868.
Exterior Description
The west tower is of three stages, with angle buttresses to the western angles and short buttresses forming a continuation of the nave west wall at the eastern angles. The north and south faces are blind in the lowest stage (as usual in East Anglian towers of this type) and the west face has a two- light window with a pointed mouchette as tracery. On the south-west buttress is a prominent mascn's mark like a set-square and wedge. The middle stage is pierced in the north, south and west walls by quatrefil soundholes, and the belfry stage, separated from those below by a continuous moulded stringcourse at which level the buttresses die into the wall, has two-light belfry openings in each face of the same pattern as the west window lower down.
The nave is distinguished for three reasons. First it is long, broad and light, making a well proportioned room; secondly there is particularly refined tracery in the windows; and thirdly the exterior of the walls is decorated with flush work of the highest quality.
The south porch stands in the second bay from the west, and it too is decorated with flushwork; the band of chequerwork at the lowest level continues here as does the band of dark flint and shields. There is more over a frieze above the doorway of square panels containing crowned Ms alternating with the monogram IHS. The doorway itself is a two-centred arch with mouldings carried on attached shafts in two orders there are blind shields in the spandrels. At the south-east angle is an angle buttress also decorated with the paired trefoiled arches seen on the nave buttresses, while to the south-west is a prominent projection with a moulded south face.
Returning to the walls of the nave, the remaining bays on the south wall and all the bays of the north wall have large three-light Perpendicular windows.
The chancel is lower and altogethor humbler than the nave, a fact no doubt attributable to its earlier date. The windows in the north and south walls are arranged in pairs, with two-light Decorated windows almost against the nave wall to light the choirstalls. These have ogee-headed lights and a pointed mouchette on its side above. The pair of windows further east which lights the sanctuary is later, each with cinquefoiled lights and panel tracery, the hood-mould rather more pointed than that over the western windows. The south wall has in addition a priest's doorway with an ogee head terminating in a fleur-de-lys finial. The east window is of three lights with intersecting tracery, almost entirely renewed.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c.1870
West window, of two lights, representing The Calling of St. Nathaniel.
Stained Glass
15th Century
Second from west in north nave wall, considerable fragments of canopy work in bright colours.
Stained Glass
Chancel south I: to Samuel Speare.
Stained Glass
Chancel scuth II: rosette in top light
Stained Glass
East window: representing four scenes from the Life of Christ.
Interior
Interior Description
Not only is the nave tall and wide, but it is further enhanced by the fact that, although there are no arcades to aisles as such, the large windows are set within arcados rather then rere-arches, a practice which may also be seen in some of the Norwich churches. This gives an articulation to the walls and brings a distinction to the building. The roof is nineteenth-century, panelled in pine, and the tower arch of three chamfered orders, of which the innermost is carried on semi-octagonal responds, was also opened at the time of the 1868 restoration.
The chancel arch is very plain, with chamfered responds which without capitals become the moulded arch. Within the north respond is the rood-stair, projecting slightly on the exterior of the building. The lower and upper doorways and the steps within are all perfectly preserved, and do not seem to have much nineteenth-century attention. The chancel is narrow in relation to its length, and not as well lit as the nave.
On the south side of the sanctuary is a tall piscina within a rectangular surround crested with a decoration of overlapping crenellations. The moulded sides have semi- octagonal bases and within is a trefoiled arch with a pointed head to the central lobe, flanked by florets on the cusping.
Fixtures and fittings
Pulpit
A hexagon with traceried panels.
Lectern
19th Century
The lectern is of brass, a design with revolving two-sided desk and a stem of quatrefoil section supported by four small pinnacles with tracery between.
Font (object)
14th Century
The font is octagonal, stem with moulded base. The eight faces have finely carved designs of traceried windows alternating with centrally planned geometrical patterns.
Organ (object)
The organ is a single-manual instrument with six speaking stops, the pipes behind a row of stencilled diapason pipes.
Bells
Nominal: 1375 Hz Weight: 476 lbs Diameter: 27.25" Bell 2 of 6
Founded by John Taylor & Son 1850
Dove Bell ID: 36463 Tower ID: 10728 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 1225 Hz Weight: 504 lbs Diameter: 28" Bell 3 of 6
Founded by Alfred Bowell 1911
Dove Bell ID: 36464 Tower ID: 10728 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: unturned Cracked: No
Nominal: 1125 Hz Weight: 560 lbs Diameter: 29.25" Bell 4 of 6
Founded by John Goldsmith 1712
Dove Bell ID: 36465 Tower ID: 10728 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 995 Hz Weight: 672 lbs Diameter: 32.5" Bell 5 of 6
Founded by John Goldsmith 1712
Dove Bell ID: 36466 Tower ID: 10728 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Nominal: 900 Hz Weight: 840 lbs Diameter: 34.75" Bell 6 of 6
Founded by John Goldsmith 1712
Dove Bell ID: 36467 Tower ID: 10728 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Turnings: quarter Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: TM 40 745
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | N/A |
| Solar Thermal Panels | N/A |
| Biomass | N/A |
| Wind Turbine | N/A |
| Air Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | N/A |
| Ev Charging | N/A |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
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