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There is let
into the wall of the west end, near to the font, a
peculiarly carved stone. This was found in the
rubble filling the tower when it was rebuilt in the
19th century. The carving has been called part
of a Saxon font but it was very likely executed much
later. Even so, it is probably the earliest
stone fragment in the church.
There is a possibility
that some of the brick in the wall is Roman. When
the church was being repaired in 1832 it was found to be
standing on part of a Roman foundation. The Saxon
church was replaced in the 12th century, when the arches
of the crossing were set up, and a nave of three bays
was continued towards the west. The original
height of this nave was the same as that of the present
chancel. The
chancel, the oldest undisturbed part of the building,
was constructed in the early 13th century. It was
originally lit by the lancet windows in the north and
south walls of each bay, of which that on the north-east
survives. The original east window also probably
consisted of three of these lancets. North and
south transepts in similar style completed the building.
In the 14the century an extra storey was
apparently added to the tower; the lancets in the
chancel were replaced, with one exception, by the
present windows. A vestry was built on the
north-east bay of the chancel, and the lancet window was
buried in the new wall to be preserved for posterity.
Later too, the triple lancet at the east
end was replaced by a perpendicular window, and the
north transept aisle was added, probably in the late
15th century, to be the chantry and tomb of Sir Richard
Dalyngridge, Lord of the Manor of Wade. The
chantry lapsed before 1547.
This completed the church as it was to
remain until the 19th century. In 1832 the nave
was found to be very unsafe. It was taken down and
a new one built, also of three bays, but higher than
before, and without aisles. The resulting
structure was adequate but not very handsome.
Then, in about 1870, it was discovered
that the removal of the nave and its rebuilding had
seriously affected the strength of the tower. This
was on the point of collapse, and in fact was only saved
by the brick supports inserted in 1832.
From then until 1875 the whole of the
western end of the church was remodelled. The
tower was taken down to the level of the crossing
arches, which were strengthened and repaired, and was
then rebuilt to the old plan with the original
materials. The nave was rebuilt, this time with
aisles, and was extended one bay to the west. The
north porch was added, and the south transept aisle
built on the pattern of that on the north. This
resulted in the building which you see today.
There are two blocked doorways near the
chancel arch; the lower one originally gave access to
the staircase in the tower from the church; the upper
led from this to the rood loft? The two bosses in the
chancel vault are thought to show French influence.
Situated in one of the blocked doorways is a statue
depicting our patron St. Faith, installed in memory of
Doris Norkett, who gave many years of devoted service to
the church.
Researched by Mr. AJC Reger
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