ALL SAINTS CHURCH, WAKES COLNE

 A guide to the church dedicated to All Saints.

This church is basically a Norman building of about 1100. Opinion is divided on which is the earliest part of the building but it is likely to be the chancel, with the nave slightly later but also Norman. There was probably a central tower to the church which was either demolished later or never completed. A stairway inside the thickness of the wall can be seen on the north side of the chancel.

The chancel was extended eastwards during the nineteenth century and during the early twentieth century extensive refurbishment took place. During the 15th Century the wooden bell turret was added which rests on massive tie beams at the west end of the church. There are three bells which are in regular use.

There is no absolute certainty about the dates of the features of the church. For example, one authority says the square window in the south wall of the nave is 14th century, another that it is 16th century. Nevertheless, we can be confident that the church has been much changed down the centuries.

The entrance porch is probably of 15th century date and the door archway Norman. The corresponding Norman door on the north side has recently been reopened after being blocked up with rubble. The door on the north side is of Tudor origin.

The font at the west end is of Norman origin and beside it lies a coffin lid of stone dating from the 13th century. The font is a hexagonal bowl, each face with three round-headed panels, late 12th century in date, resting on a modem base.

At the west of the church is a remarkable screen erected on a memorial to the fallen of the Great War. Above the screen at the west end a gallery once stood: it was taken down during restoration work earlier this century.

The windows of the church have Victorian or later stained glass. At the west end is a modern window given by the Misses Farncombe Tanner in memory of the brother William. They also gave the reredos.

In the chancel, the altar frontals were made by the Royal School of Needlework and the aumbry given in recent years. On the east wall there are magnificent mural paintings dating from about 1910. Alas, no record exists of exactly when and by whom this art was executed. A fine organ accompanies worship each Sunday.

The church possesses a silver communion cup of 1702 which is kept in a bank and used at Easter each year.

Rev. John Richardson. M.A. Rector