All Saints Church - exterior

All Saints Parish Church 1910

(Deacon)

Church circa 1995 taken from Vicarage Garden

(Deacon)

Parish church from vicarage garden

(Deacon)

All Saints Parish Church new bells 18.06.1937

(Deacon)

Harston church by Marian F Allen 1970

(Deacon)

All Saints Parish Church 1995

(Deacon)

Churchyard entrance

(Deacon)

All Saints Church 2015

(Griffin)

Harston church 2015

(Roadley)

There has been a church in the village since Norman times and probably earlier. The first definite mention is in 1096 when the rectory was given to the Prior of Barnwell. All that remains of this are perhaps the grotesque corbels supporting the nave roof. Most of the present church was built about 1445 although the tower may be somewhat older, judging by some peculiarities in the masonry on the north and south sides. The main building has survived virtually unaltered since that date though the nave roof has been lowered – the moulding indicating an earlier roof-line can be seen on the east face of the tower.

The present church was probably built by masons from Northamptonshire although the flint-faced exterior is typically East Anglian. The church is described in the ‘Victoria County History’ as being a fine example of flint and rubble construction. The tower has buttresses clasping the corners, a Northamptonshire feature.

English Heritage has listed the building as Grade II.

The church is unusual in being approached from the north by a pleasant path through the churchyard. So this side of the church is decorated with a porch, larger windows and an original conical roof to the stair turret. Since 1983 this has an added ornament of a heron weather-vane. Herons are among the many birds to be seen on this particularly attractive part of the river Rhee shadowed by large chestnuts. In 1974 the churchyard was redesigned as a peaceful garden, with seats overlooking the river and roses planted to commemorate those whose ashes are interred here