Description:
West-east aspect. Grade I listed building.
C13 arcades, mainly C14, C15 clerestory and tower, chancel restored 1854. Thinly coursed rubble with quoins, ashlar buttresses and tower. Lead roofs except tiled chancel roof. West tower, 4-bay nave with lean-to north and south aisles and south porch, 3-bay chancel. Perpendicular tower of circa 1450 with clasping and angle buttresses, in 3 reducing stages. 3-light west window, small 2-light bell-chamber openings to top stage, double decorative frieze, crenellated parapet with corner pinnacles. 3-light west windows to the aisles with intersecting tracery. Perpendicular south porch with shallow arch and
shallow lead roof. The south aisle has two 3-light square-headed windows, with ogee lights and an embattled parapet. 3-light east window with reticulated tracery. The north aisle has tiny lancet
windows one with a round arch. 2-light, arched clerestory windows.
Interior: 4-bay north and south arcades on short round piers, both C13 but the north side is earlier with nail-head decoration. Good nave roof, Perpendicular of C16 with wall posts supported on monsters'
heads. Carved initials and dates show repairs to have been done to the roof in 1600, 1785 and 1794 (Church guide). The south aisle roof is inscribed 'IW TP 1722 IH'. In the north aisle, east end is a
section of C13 wall plate with nailhead decoration, and a similar timber in the north aisle roof. A beam in the porch is inscribed 'OH ANNO DOMINI 1608 THE XXVII OF AUGUST TB'. Aumbry, south aisle,
east end. Piscina in chancel. Octagonal font, decorated, early C14, plain on square base. A fragment of late C14 stained glass in east window of north aisle, a cloaked bearded figure. Late C14 or early
C15 benches, in chancel, with poppy heads and moulded back rails.
5 bells: C16, 1669, 1757, one recast 1905 and one new 1905.
N Pevsner. The Buildings of England, 1979.
Taken from http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-241830-church-of-st-giles-cropwell-bishop