St Andrews stands very close to Wimpole Hall (now owned by the National Trust); there are no other houses nearby. Obviously it was important the wealthy had a short journey to the church, despite the fact they were probably the only parishioners with their own transport!
The main structure dates from 1749. In April 1748 the previous medieval church was demolished, apart from the 14th century Chicheley Chapel. The new church was designed by Henry Flitcroft. The bell in the little bell cote dates from 1653.
The next image shows the church from the south.
Here is a view of the nave looking east towards the sanctuary which has no aisles.
The carved wooden reredos at the east end originally contained boards with the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer. The Venetian stained glass window was inserted in the 19th century. The wrought iron communion rails were installed in the early 20th century as a memorial to the 6th Viscount Clifden.
Click on this picture of the east window, or here, to see the rest of the windows in this church. There is also a larger version of this picture.
Here is a view looking west towards the gallery which contains the organ.
Under the west gallery stands the font, which is a Victorian affair. There is an engraving of the medieval font it replaced.
The Chicheley Chapel is the only surviving part of the previous church, and was originally only accessible by a separate door into the churchyard. The arch was built during the Victorian modelling thereby opening the chapel up to the main church.
The chapel is dominated by the tomb effigy of the 3rd Earl of Hardwicke (dressed in his Garter Robes), executed by Richard Westmacott the younger in 1844.
This view of the church is taken from the north east - the Chicheley Chapel is of a very different style, being a remnant of the older church.
The final view is of the church from the east through the trees.
Digital photographs
Visitors to this album since June 2003
If you found this page using a search engine or other link, please use the icons below to link to one of the main sections of the Roughwood web site:
Please do not reproduce or store any of the pictures on this site without asking first.
