.
All Saints Church
Great Chalfield, Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire
.
The little church of All Saints at Great Chalfield Manor House consists of nave, chancel and a south chapel, mostly built of rubble stone with ashlar trimmings under a roof of Forest Marble limestone tiles. Some Saxon stonework is preserved, but it was first recorded in 1316 as a chapel and in 1348 as a church and it is from the 14th century that the nave dates. The chancel was rebuilt in the 15th century and the south chapel and bell turret with crocketed spire were added at the same time. An extension from the east side of the chapel was made in 1775 to provide a vestry and a side chapel to the chancel in which the organ sits.
A carved 15th century stone screen divides the south chapel from the nave. It features the arms of Tropenell in the centre and smaller shields showing Tropenell impaling the arms of families that Tropenells married, including Percy, Rous, Roche and Ludlow. The west wall of the chapel has remains of medieval wall painting that once showed scenes from the life of St Katherine, but not easy to make out today.
.
.
.
.
.
.
The arms of Thomas Tropenell: gules, a fess engrailed ermine between three griffons’ heads erased argent
Tropenell’s arms impaling those of the Percy family: azure, five conjoined fusils in fess or
The small organ was made for Rev Edward Kingston, Rector 1878-1900 and its case, painted in medieval style by a Miss Maurice, was made 1910-1914 by Charles Henry Biddulph Pinchard (1876–1944) *
The stained-glass window of the south chapel is a memorial to Mary Elizabeth Floyd, née Fuller (1916-1996). It features The Parable of the Sower and was designed by Andrew Taylor in 1999, with representations of many aspects of local natural history
* Read an article by Mike Pitts about the organ case (external link, opens in a new tab)