Church of All Saints, Radwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of All Saints |
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Church of All Saints in Radwell in Hertfordshire
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| 52°00′27″N 0°12′22″W / 52.00747°N 0.20602°W | |
| Location | Radwell, Hertfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1968 |
| Years built | 14th-century (current building) |
| Specifications | |
| Nave width | 16 feet 6 inches (5.03 m) |
| Materials | Flint, clunch |
| Bells | 2 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | St Albans |
The Church of All Saints is a historic church located in Radwell, a village in Hertfordshire, England. It's an Anglican church, meaning it belongs to the Church of England. This special building is officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building, which means it's very important and protected because of its history and architecture. It got this special status in 1968.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
People believe there has been a church on this spot since at least 1215. The first known priest, Baldricus, was recorded here in 1218. The very first church was likely made mostly of wood. None of that original wooden building remains today.
The current All Saints Church is a small parish church. It was built in the Perpendicular style, which was popular in England. Most of the church you see today probably dates back to the mid-1300s. However, it was repaired and updated quite a lot in the 1800s.
Parts of the Church Building
The church has several main parts. There's the chancel, which is the area around the altar, measuring about 20 feet by 13 feet 6 inches. Next to it is a north vestry, which is a room for the clergy, about 14 feet by 7 feet. The main part where people sit is called the nave, which is 35 feet by 16 feet 6 inches. There's also a south porch, which is the entrance area, about 8 feet 6 inches by 8 feet.
The church is built from flint and a soft stone called clunch. In some places, the cement covering has been removed, showing the original stones. The arches, window openings, and walls of the nave and chancel are likely from the mid-1300s. The large east window, which has three sections, is from around 1500. Its beautiful stained glass was added later in 1885.
Repairs and Features
The nave was repaired in 1875, and that's when the wooden seats (pews) were put in. The chancel was repaired in 1882, and the vestry and south porch were added then. The nave is quite short and doesn't have side aisles. It only has one window on its north wall and one on its south wall.
The roof is steeply sloped with stone caps on the ends. Above the west part of the nave, you can see a small bell tower with a copper spire. This spire covers the timber bell chamber. An arch separates the west part of the nave, suggesting that the builders might have planned to add a larger tower there.
The chancel arch, which separates the chancel from the nave, dates to about 1340. It's similar to the tower arch but has more detailed carvings. The chancel's curved ceiling was added in the 1800s. You can still see marks on the chancel arch where a rood screen used to be. This screen would have separated the clergy from the congregation, but it was removed centuries ago.
Inside the Church
The large baptismal font is very old, from the 1300s or 1400s. It's quite plain but has shields carved into its base. The communion rails, which are fences around the altar, are from the 1600s. They have square, tapering posts.
The wooden pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, was given in memory of Frances Temple Proctor. She passed away in 1889 and was the wife of the rector, Rev Lovell Proctor. It also remembers their son, Charles, who sadly drowned in Bombay Harbour in 1906.
Old Tombs and Memorials
Inside the church, you can find several interesting monuments. On the south wall of the chancel is a special tomb with a statue, called an effigy, of Mary Plomer. She died in 1605 when she was 30 years old, after giving birth to her eleventh child.
Mary Plomer's Tomb
This tomb is a great example of country-style art from the Elizabethan period. Mary is shown as a large seated figure, holding a baby wrapped in a special cloth called a chrisom. This cloth was worn by babies for a month after their christening to protect the sign of the cross made with special oil. The baby on the tomb was removed for safekeeping. Mary has one foot on a skull and holds an hourglass, which reminds us about time passing. The baby's chrisom cloth suggests the baby died within a month of being baptized.
To the left of Mary, there's a smaller figure of Time. The whole tomb is surrounded by decorated pillars. Below the main statue, there's a panel showing her other ten children kneeling. Six are sons, and two of them are shown slightly set back, meaning they had died before her. She also had four daughters.
Other Memorials
On the same wall, there's a monument to Ann Plomer, who died in 1625. It's a carved stone slab with an arch and a decorative top. On the north wall of the chancel, you'll find a monument with small kneeling figures of John Parker, who died in 1595, along with his wife and son. This monument is similar to Mary Plomer's but simpler.
At the west end of the south chancel wall, there's a small leather plaque for William Pym, who died in 1729. On the south wall of the nave, there's a monument to William Plomer, who died in 1625. It shows him kneeling at an altar, with tall stone decorations and crests above an arch. Several other memorials from the 1700s and later are on the nave walls.
Floor Brasses
Several special brass plates, called monumental brasses, are set into the floor of the chancel. One in the north is for Elizabeth Parker, who died in 1602. In the south, there's a brass for William Wheteaker, who died in 1487, along with his wife and son. In the north-east corner of the nave, there's a brass for John Bele, who died in 1516, and his two wives and children. The inscription asks for prayers for their souls.
Above the east side of the tower arch, you can see the stone-carved royal arms of King George IV, dated 1825. In the churchyard outside, there's a memorial for Private E.G. Stockham, who died in 1919. This memorial is cared for by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Church Bells
The Church of All Saints has two bells, and both are quite small. The higher-pitched bell is very old, probably made in the 1300s. The lower-pitched bell is not as old and was likely remade in the 1600s.
Images for kids
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Effigy tomb of William Plomer (1625)
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Monumental brass to William Wheteaker with his wife and son (1487)
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Monumental brass to John Bele with his two wives and children (1516)
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Royal Arms of George IV
