Stoke Wake: All Saints
Overview
Grid reference: ST 764 64
The style of the church is a simple Early English, as befitted a small church which required a minimum of inexpensive detailing. There is, nonetheless, a certain strength about the building which is derived from its compact form, and especially from the chancel apse and the five-light west window.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Three-bay nave with north aisle and west bell-cote; chancel with apse.
Description of Archaeology and History
The church dates entirely from a rebuilding in 1872 to designs by G.R. Crickmay; it cost £900.
Exterior Description
The style of the church is a simple Early English, as befitted a small church which required a minimum of inexpensive detailing. There is, nonetheless, a certain strength about the building which is derived from its compact form, and especially from the chancel apse and the five-light west window. The windows throughout are lancets, the nave having two pairs of lancets in the south wall and the chancel single lights round the faces of the apse. The scheme is continued by a pair of lancets in the west wall of the north aisle and one pair and two single lights in the north wall of the aisle. The west nave window is composed of a group of five stepped lancet within a surround of ashlar under a relieving arch. The texture of the walls contributes to the impression of the building; the majority of the wall surfaces are faced with bands of brown and buff limestones, alternately rock-cut and smooth. The dressings to the windows and doorways are all smooth ashlar, and there are buttresses only at the corners of the nave and north aisle (that is, not round the apse), which are faced with flint to give variety. The bell-cote on the west gable of the nave is rather heavy in scale, presumably because it is the first feature to be seen from the west. It has a simple lancet opening under a sharply pointed gablet surmounted by a cross.
Interior
Interior Description
The interior of the church is all brown. The windows are set in plain unmoulded reveals of smooth pale stone, and the walls are covered with the brown rendering so familiar in Dorset churches of this period. There is moreover no stained glass, but all the windows are filled with greenish-brown "Cathedral" glass. The floor is paved with red and black quarries and the simple open timber roof has scissor-braces to mark the bays. Amidst the routine work of the majority of the church, only the north arcade stands out as a striking feature. The two intermediate round piers have capitals carved with boldly undercut foliage, with moulded base and square moulded abaci. The east and west responds have two slender attached shafts rather than half-piers as might be expected, and these too have lavishly foliated capitals. The roll-moulding which outlines each arch is also almost identical to that at Turnworth. The piers are so short that all the elaboration comes just at eye-level. The chancel arch is composed of two roll-moulded arrisses with a flat undecorated band between. There is one step at this point, and two more to distinguish the sanctuary. The lancet lights in the walls of the apse have deep reveals which reach down to the floor, and the roof is boarded in pine.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
15th Century
The font survives from the previous church; it is fifteenth-century of limestone, octagonal, with chamfered base and stem decorated with trefoiled panels in each face. The faces of the bowl are carved with quatrefoils containing florets and shields alternately. The underside of the bowl has coupled trefoil-headed panels.
Font (component)
Late 17th Century
The cover is also octagonal, of pyramid out capped with a ball finial, late seventeenth-century.
Pew (object)
The pews are of pine, with bold geometrical ends, no doubt also by the architect.
Pulpit
The pulpit and reading-desk, of oak, are decorated with simple arched panels.
Stall
The stalls are slightly mannered with inward-sloping tops to the open arcading along the front.
Churchyard
Grid reference: ST 764 64
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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