The Piscina

In the wall of the sanctuary to the right of the high altar is a double piscina, having two arches with a central supporting shaft, a feature not often seen, especially in a country church.

The Crusader’s Stone

In 1848, workmen repairing the floor of the porch uncovered a large stone slab or gravestone, and three feet below, a skeleton. It is thought to be the last resting place of the local knight, Sir Charles Daubeney who died in 1386. The stone, with its unusual cross in the shape of a sword carved on the top, at present lies at the East end of the North aisle, in front of the altar.

The Mass Dial

Carved into the left-hand buttress at the entrance to the porch is a circle of small holes at regular distances from a larger hole in the centre, a straight line being scratched from each small hole to the centre one. This is known as a Mass Dial and was the forerunner of the modern Notice Board.

A moveable pointer was fixed in the centre hole like a hand of a clock which was moved by the Priest as he left the building to show the time when the Mass was next to be said in church. It was in this way that the parishioners knew when to attend church.

The Bees

Above the porch is a room known at All Saints as the Priest's Room. It was used as a vestry for several centuries. If observant visitors look carefully at the stonework above the window, they will see a small hole and, on fine days, honey bees going back and forth. These bees have had a nest in the roof above the Room for well over a hundred years. Recently, in 1992, the roof had to be replaced because the old one had rotted. The bees were captured and taken away. During the work the old nest was destroyed. Care was taken, however, to replace the roof as before and in May 1993 the bees were returned to All Saints, once more to occupy their ancient home.