tower west
south porch , nave
st nicholas’ of flint rubble, clunch , limestone construction, , cruciform footprint. comprises chancel, nave, north , south transepts, west tower , south porch, , of english , perpendicular style. roofs red tiled throughout.
the church s 15th-century three-stage tower of gothic perpendicular style. of approximately 12 feet (4 m) square in footprint, bottom stage contains door , window on west face. restored 15th-century door, faced decorative hinges, set within chamfered arch topped rectilinear enclosure; between , arch spandrels inset rosettes containing quatrefoils. around top of squared surround rectilinear hood mould. above door restored 15th-century perpendicular pointed arch window set within chamfered reveal. window of 3 lights outer arch spring, each ending in trefoil-headed arch. above lights panel tracery—a perpendicular style of upright straight openings above lower lights—leading further arches. around window opening arch hood mould. second tower stage west side, set back, contains narrow arrowslit window rebated within arch, possibly 15th-century. above apex of window opening small round stone carved diagonal cross inset. on south face c. 2000 tower clock; circular, convex, , gold numerals. belfry third stage, set again, contains restored 15th-century window opening on sides, of 2 lights trefoil heads, louvred, , ending in flattened pointed arch hood mould. tower parapet embattled. inset behind battlements four-sided pyramid stub spire. angled buttress runs height of first stage @ nave ends of north , south sides—english heritage states there no tower buttresses. bases of buttresses simple moulded socle (plinth) topped cill band—angled projection allows water flow building face— running around tower.
the nave approximately 44.5 feet (14 m) east west , 20 feet (6 m) north south. north side contains 19th-century window arched lancets , twin-stepped angle buttress. running off nave south side 1868 porch, door set within rounded arch opening following hood mould above. on both east , west sides small twin-light window ogee trefoiled head arches within rectilinear frame. porch roof steeply pitched , surmounted cross of celtic appearance. within porch, right of nave door opening 15th-century stoup worn basin within pointed recess. east of porch three-light flat-arched window cinquefoil heads, dated 15th century reused 13th-century material.
attached between nave , chancel north , south transepts. north transept 18.5 feet (5.6 m) east west, , 15.5 feet (4.7 m) north south. has 19th-century window of 3 lights below tracery on both east , north walls, both within 14th-century opening. west of north window 13th-century arched doorway, above small niche trefoil head. south transept 18.5 feet (5.6 m) east west, , 19 feet (5.8 m) north south. contains on east side restored 14th-century window ogee-headed twin lights , tracery within square head. south wall 14th-century window of ogee-headed twin lights , tracery arch surround , hood mould. south transept has twin-stepped diagonal buttresses.
the chancel 24 feet (7 m) east west, , 17 feet (5 m) north south. east chancel window, part of 1868 restoration, of 3 lights, centre light running chamfered window arch, outer lights running window arch spring. mullions have 3 part circular shafts dressing sitting on moulded bases, topped floriated capitals. above 2 outer lights quatrefoil rosettes set within fields of filigree style. hood mould joins 19th-century horizontal cill band, runs across wall face , continues in stepped fashion across east wall corner twin-stepped angle buttresses, , around north , south chancel walls. north , south chancel windows of same style, of 2 lights. north wall contains further c. 1270 single-lancet arched window, , arched door way of same date arch surrounded hood mould personified carved label stops.
interior
nave , chancel tower arch
the church walls , ceilings rendered , painted white throughout. windows glazed translucent rectilinear glass panels, in clear, red or blue. flooring plain red tiling except on raised chancel sanctuary behind altar rail there added bands of black, white , brown. chancel east window part of 19th-century restoration, use of c. 1270 capital detail. c. 1270 chamfered rebated chancel arch has hood mould finished human head label stops on both chancel , nave sides. set within arch further chamfered arch supported responds—half-piers attached walls supporting arch—of semi-circular columns flat-face faceted moulded bases, , foliate capitals have been part-restored. 19th-century-added arched squint on each side of chancel arch, each chamfered rebate part of arch. set above each squint on chancel side gable moulding with, @ spring , point, carved foliated detail. within chancel 14th-century piscina containing quatrefoil shaped drain.
chancel arch squint niches
the north transept (or priory end) windows, east , north, 19th century within 14th-century openings. trussed roof possibly 16th century tie beam support added in 19th. south transept (or hall end) east , south windows 14th century although partly restored. 15th-century south transept roof trussing of hammer beam construction, curved collar braces springing beams supported curved chamfered brackets. running on wall hammer beams roof line wind braces, , ridge beam roof truss framing. both transepts separated nave c. 20th-century panels , doors rising part way top of arches. north transept solid panelling; south clear glazed doors full width. north transept today used church vestry room, , south transept meeting room modern furniture. on south wall of south transept 14th-century piscina recessed trefoiled head, re-cut quatrefoil drain, head of woman in wimple carved @ apex, , finial above.
the nave 13th century in origin, rebuilt in 14th. @ west of north wall part of 12th-century window, blocked , not visible outside, abutted tower wall. north wall window 19th century within 14th-century opening. @ east of nave arch leading north transept. chamfered arch reused when nave widened in 14th century, , supported semi-octagonal responds added in 19th. nave south wall arch south transept 13th century, chamfered, square responds. between transept arch , east wall blocked 15th-century doorway led loft above former rood screen. part-restored south three-light window late 15th century, using material 13th. west of window south doorway moulded arch , hood mould. between south door , tower wall part of 12th-century window, blocked, mirror image on north wall.
at west of nave within tower arch 1780 church organ part of 15th-century three-panelled screen set in front part of organist’s chair—this screen may have come neighbouring berden hall. within nave against north wall of chancel arch octagonal oak pulpit ornamented panelling taken earlier 17th-century pulpit. behind pulpit on chancel arch west face inscribed, in lomardic capitals, mason inscription: “gefrai limathun” (geoffrey mason). church octagonal font sits @ west of nave central tower arch, , plain , painted white, plain octagonal wood cover on sits floral display.
tower bells 1 each w. , p. wightman (1695); j. keene (possibly 1613); robert oldfield (1613); , thomas newman of cambridge.
church plate includes 17th-century repoussé silver-gilt paten, inscription berden parish, 1768. 1602 silver-gilt cup coat of arms, secular—a cup not made church—is of pear shape chased bowl, twisted stem, , steeple-top cover.
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