Chilton, Berkshire

All Saints (parish church)

The church of All Saints is a small building of stone, of the Early English and later periods, consisting of chancel, nave of two bays, south aisle, south porch and a western tower with open embattled parapet and small gabled pinnacles and containing 6 bells and a sanctus bell: in 1892 the tenor bell was recast and two new bells added: a clock which strikes the hours was also placed in the tower at the same time; the chancel was restored in 1875 under the direction of the late G. E. Street esq. R.A.: the south aisle appears to be Early English, and is divided from the nave by an arcade of two Pointed arches supported by a single circular column, with a boldly mounted cap and base; the windows of the church are chiefty of the Decorated and Perpendicular periods; the south porch and tower are modern: in the south aisle stands a font, a deep ten-sided basin hewn out of a solid block of stone; it expands slightly towards the top and is placed on a circular base: in the north wall of the nave is a trefoiled niche: in the chancel, on the north side, is a mural monument of marble, in the Classic style, to Richard Knapp esq. reader of the Inner Temple, d. June 6, 1710, and Jane, his wife, d. 5th September, 1737, and two children; above is a shield of arms, or. a lion, pass. sable. and in chief, 3 helmets; on the south side is a tablet inscribed to George Knapp. d. 12 November, 1809: on the west side of the chancel arch is a marble monoment in the Classic style, erected during his lifetime, by Adam Head, to himself (d. 8th April, 1729); Martha, his wife. d. 21 December, 1735, and 3 children, 1703-23, with inscription in Latin, and below an inscription to Head Plott, of Upton, gent. grandson of Adam Head, d. November 7th, 1765; on the arcade is a marble tablet to Elizabeth, wife of Head Plott, buried May 24, 1773; Annie, wife of Thomas Yorke, buried December 17, 1756, and Annie, wife of Richard Hopkins, d. March 21, 1807: the stained east window is a memorial to the Rev. Edward Morland Chaplin M.A. a former rector, who died June 1, 1877, and there is a small memorial window to Mary G. R. Chaplin, d. 9th July, 1871: in the churchyard, east of the aisle, are three altar tombs to the Knapp family of Blewbury and Chilton, 1754-1817: near the porch is a coped tomb to the Rev. Charles Gaisford M.A. rector, d. 1st August, 1857, and by the entrance to the rectory grounds is a marble cross marking the grave of the Rev. E. M. Chaplin M.A. 19 years rector, inscribed to himself and others of his family; and a cross to Miss Susan Morland: there is an altar tomb and mural tablet to the Goddard family, 1742-1800; coped tombs of the family of Lay, 1815-75, and other memorials to the families of Stevens, 1854-72; Guy, 1885, and Lewinton, 1803-9: on the east side of the churchyard is a lich-gate, surmounted by a cross; the church affords 100 sittings.