Description

ISLIP HIGH STREET
SP5214 (West side)
12/77 Church of St. Nicholas
07/12/66
GV I
Church. Late C12 (and possibly C11), C14 and C15; chancel 1680 by Richard
Varney, mason, for Dr. Robert South; restored 1861 by E.G. Bruton. Limestone
ashlar, and rubble with ashlar dressings; Stonesfield-slate and artificial
stone-slate roofs. Aisled nave, chancel, north-east vestry, south porch and west
tower. Chancel, of squared coursed rubble, now has C19 windows in Geometrical
Decorated style: a 3-light east window and 2-light windows to north and south,
all with foliage stops to the hood moulds. The hipped-roofed vestry to north
incorporates a small lancet which may be medieval. The narrow south aisle with a
steep double-pitched roof, has a 2-light Decorated east window and 2 similar
windows to south. The porch, with arcaded side windows, is C19 but shelters the
C14 south doorway which has continuous mouldings. The west gable wall of the
aisle contains a small C11/C12 window. The broader north aisle, also with a
steep double-pitched roof, has 4 large 3-light windows with good geometrical
tracery, mostly renewed; the blocked north doorway has continuous wave mouldings
either side of a three-quarter hollow moulding. The fine ashlar 3-stage C15
tower, with diagonal buttresses and crenellated parapet has a 3-light 4-centre
arched west window, with intersecting tracery and a wide casement moulding,
above a Tudor-arched door with quatrefoils in the spandrels and a label mould;
the top stage has large 2-light bell-chamber openings with Perpendicular tracery
and transoms; the crocketted corner pinnacles have panelled sides. Interior: C14
chancel arch and 3-bay south arcade with octagonal piers and foliage corbels to
responds. Late C12 Transitional north arcade has pointed chamfered arches, but
has square scalloped and leaf-volute capitals on round piers, and the responds
with engaged corner shafts. Tall C15 tower arch. Small C14 piscina in south
aisle. Coupled-rafter nave roof is probably C13/C14; butt-purlin roof in south
aisle, with straight windbraces and some stop-chamfers, may be C17; butt-purlin
roof of north aisle, of slighter scantling, is dated 1716. C19 polychrome glazed
tiles in sanctuary. Fittings include a C15 font panelled with quatrefoils, a C17
communion table in the north aisle, and panelled and carved choir stalls which
probably incorporate some work of 1680. C19 wooden reredos has carved wooden
figures beneath elaborate canopies. Monuments include wall memorials to Henry
Norrys (died 1637) with a brass in a marble surround, and to Edward Dewe (died
1656) and Luke Chapham (died 1676), both with side scrolls, broken pediments and
cartouches of arms. Stained glass: east window 1861 by Warrington; west window
1862 by Powell; south chancel windows 1904 by Powell Ltd. The church was given
to Westminster Abbey in 1065 by Edward the Confessor, and the narrow south aisle
may represent the nave of his church, the west wall with its window and high
gable possibly remaining from this building.
(V.C.H.: Oxfordshire, Vol.VI, p.216-7; Buildings of England: Oxfordshire,
p.664).

Listing NGR: SP5265214093

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Nicholas' Church, Islip at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q7594924

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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