St Mary's, Fawsley
Fawsley church has long been a favourite of mine, ever since we first stumbled across it on a family outing in my youth. Seeing it standing alone in its field we simply had to stop and investigate, and were not prepared for the wealth of interest awaiting us inside. The memory thus is a strong one, and we liked it enough to revisit all those years ago, but it had been a good three decades and more since then and I was most eager to return.
To reach the church one has to pass through a gate and a field usually full of roaming sheep. The church is protected by a ditch that encloses it and the very small churchyard on the south side, beyond which is a lake. A short distance to the west stands the late medieval Fawsley Hall, now a hotel but formerly the ancient home of the Knightley Family who at the time of the Reformation decided to clear away Fawsley village to enclose the area for sheep grazing, living only the church standing alone as it still does today.
The earliest parts of the building are 13th century but what we see today is the result of various modifications since, the square tower being of 14th century date and the nave clerestorey and square-headed aisle windows from the early Tudor period. Lastly the small chancel was rebuilt in 1690, an example of Gothic Survival, blending well with the rest of the building. The material used is as usual in this area the warm Northamptonshire ironstone, though here it has a more silvery appearance as a result of being loud with lichen, though much of the whiteness of the north face of the tower appears to be the remnants of an external limewash. The effect is attractive and gives the northern face of the building a rather chalky finish.
Stepping inside through the narrow north door reveals an interior full of interesting features. a light interior that though not large feels more spacious than it is owing to the lack of pews except for the rare Tudor box pews at the west end. These only fill the first bay of the nave but are replete with linenfold below and fascinating carved panels above which include many strange human and animal figures. The style is a fusion of late medieval and Renaissance and the date may be perhaps 1530s.
The windows meanwhile are filled with an assortment of heraldic medallions and Flemish figurative roundels, all mainly of 16th century date with a few notable exceptions (some late medieval elements remain amidst the heraldry while the west window of the south aisle has an intriguing patchwork of 17th century enamel-painted pieces). The only evidence of the Victorian period is the east window of the chancel which is a fairly standard work by Hardman's.
Perhaps the most memorable features here however are the monuments, the best being the magnificent Tudor alabaster tomb of Sir Richard and Lady Knightley with splendid effigies lying on a tomb chest adorned with small figures of their eight sons and four daughters. It is one of the finest church monuments in the country and remarkable for fusing Gothic and Renaissance details (though it remains more medieval in spirit) and retaining so much of its original colouring. Nearby in the nave are two fine late medieval brasses whilst opposite is an extraordinarily massive Jacobean monument to members of the Knightley family that fills much of the wall of the north aisle, flanked by a pair of later urn like memorials. Various grand tablets adorn the walls elsewhere in the church.
Fawsley church is unspoilt and unforgettable and if one has limited time visiting the area then this is the church to see, it is a delightful and hugely rewarding place in every sense. Happily it is normally open and welcoming to visitors too, and I was glad to see that several came in for a look throughout my visit.
The church suffered in recent years owing to the theft of lead from the roof but all is now restored. It is a heavy burden for the tiny congregation that support it, but they soldier on and will doubtless welcome any support this lovely building can attract.
St Mary's, Fawsley
Fawsley church has long been a favourite of mine, ever since we first stumbled across it on a family outing in my youth. Seeing it standing alone in its field we simply had to stop and investigate, and were not prepared for the wealth of interest awaiting us inside. The memory thus is a strong one, and we liked it enough to revisit all those years ago, but it had been a good three decades and more since then and I was most eager to return.
To reach the church one has to pass through a gate and a field usually full of roaming sheep. The church is protected by a ditch that encloses it and the very small churchyard on the south side, beyond which is a lake. A short distance to the west stands the late medieval Fawsley Hall, now a hotel but formerly the ancient home of the Knightley Family who at the time of the Reformation decided to clear away Fawsley village to enclose the area for sheep grazing, living only the church standing alone as it still does today.
The earliest parts of the building are 13th century but what we see today is the result of various modifications since, the square tower being of 14th century date and the nave clerestorey and square-headed aisle windows from the early Tudor period. Lastly the small chancel was rebuilt in 1690, an example of Gothic Survival, blending well with the rest of the building. The material used is as usual in this area the warm Northamptonshire ironstone, though here it has a more silvery appearance as a result of being loud with lichen, though much of the whiteness of the north face of the tower appears to be the remnants of an external limewash. The effect is attractive and gives the northern face of the building a rather chalky finish.
Stepping inside through the narrow north door reveals an interior full of interesting features. a light interior that though not large feels more spacious than it is owing to the lack of pews except for the rare Tudor box pews at the west end. These only fill the first bay of the nave but are replete with linenfold below and fascinating carved panels above which include many strange human and animal figures. The style is a fusion of late medieval and Renaissance and the date may be perhaps 1530s.
The windows meanwhile are filled with an assortment of heraldic medallions and Flemish figurative roundels, all mainly of 16th century date with a few notable exceptions (some late medieval elements remain amidst the heraldry while the west window of the south aisle has an intriguing patchwork of 17th century enamel-painted pieces). The only evidence of the Victorian period is the east window of the chancel which is a fairly standard work by Hardman's.
Perhaps the most memorable features here however are the monuments, the best being the magnificent Tudor alabaster tomb of Sir Richard and Lady Knightley with splendid effigies lying on a tomb chest adorned with small figures of their eight sons and four daughters. It is one of the finest church monuments in the country and remarkable for fusing Gothic and Renaissance details (though it remains more medieval in spirit) and retaining so much of its original colouring. Nearby in the nave are two fine late medieval brasses whilst opposite is an extraordinarily massive Jacobean monument to members of the Knightley family that fills much of the wall of the north aisle, flanked by a pair of later urn like memorials. Various grand tablets adorn the walls elsewhere in the church.
Fawsley church is unspoilt and unforgettable and if one has limited time visiting the area then this is the church to see, it is a delightful and hugely rewarding place in every sense. Happily it is normally open and welcoming to visitors too, and I was glad to see that several came in for a look throughout my visit.
The church suffered in recent years owing to the theft of lead from the roof but all is now restored. It is a heavy burden for the tiny congregation that support it, but they soldier on and will doubtless welcome any support this lovely building can attract.