Wickham, Berkshire

St. Swithin

The church of St. Swithin is a building of squared flint, consisting of chancel, nave of three bays, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower containing one bell, and, with the exception of the tower, was entirely rebuilt in 1845-9, from designs by Mr. Benjamin Ferrey, at the sole cost of the Rev. William Nicholson, a former rector, in a kind of 14th century style, with a profusion of ornamental carving: in the chancel are two sedilia: the east window is in memory of former rectors and the north window is to Mrs. Selina Powel: the tower is the only portion of the ancient church now remaining, and may possibly belong to the close of the 11th century; it has a balustered belfry window and quoins which appear like Saxon long and short work; the walls are of great thickness and the masonry consists of alternate layers of flint and mortar about three inches thick: the new work has been executed in the most sumptuous manner, and the sculpture of the foliage on the capitals and bosses is particularly good: a handsome font-cover, from the Exhibition of 1862, was presented to the church by Lieut.-Col. Nicholson: the roof was re-tiled in 1891: there are 150 sittings.