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I Location

II General Description

This is a large, cruciform, fenland church with central tower and spire. Between 1850-54 R.C. Carpenter carried out a major restoration on the entire church under the direction of the then rector, Rev. Basil Beridge. Five-bay nave arcade, transepts, tower, and chancel date from the 13thc., the clerestory was added in the late 15thc. and the spire was added in the 19thc.; the large 14thc. E and W windows, N and S transept windows, and the chancel were renovated in the 19thc. as well. The transepts are unusual in being double-aisled. Romanesque remains consist of the capitals of the W crossing piers, the W arcade respond capitals of both the N and S transept as well as a label stop on this arcade, and a respond capital of the arch leading into the N transept, E chapel.

IV Interior Features

1. Arches

b. Tower/Transept arches

(i) Crossing arches

W crossing piers of tower

Compound piers with renewed bases, perhaps from the Carpenter renovation. The shafts are round with a small keel. Waterleaf capitals are polygonal with a flat necking chamfered above and below; abacus plain. Impost has a deep hollow on its underside and a thick roll with quirk above on face. Same for both SW and NW capitals.

These are very high piers and capital dimensions were not obtainable.

2. Arcades

b. Transept

(i) S transept, W arcade, S respond capital

This two-bay arcade is round-headed and has two chamfered steps in the arches along with a label that has a chamfer above and below its flat face. The S respond has a renewed base and semicircular shaft on a pilaster. Nicked, early stiff-leaf/crocket capital with keel mould necking. Impost has a roll followed by a deep hollow chamfer and a roll and quirk on the face. Capital and impost are carved from one piece of stone. Pilaster jambs are chamfered with chamfer stops near base and tapering off near the top. Central crocket on N face is renewed insertion.

Dimensions

(ii) N transept, W arcade, N respond capital

Arcade same as in S transept (IV.2.b.i). Attic respond base, the E side of which has been renewed. Semicircular shaft on pilaster carrying a nicked, waterleaf capital with roll mould necking. Impost same as S transept, S respond (IV.2.b.i). The upper section of the E side of the capital and the impost are renewed.

Dimensions

(iii) N transept, E chapel, E respond capital

This keeled respond shaft is truncated, but rather than dieing into the wall it terminates in a conical shape with a ball. Nicked, waterleaf capital has keeled, roll mould necking. Impost same as S transept, S respond (IV.2.b.i).

Dimensions

VII History

Though Algarkirk is cited in the Domesday Survey as 'Alfgare', there is no mention of a church here in 1086. The lack of the suffix 'kirk' in the Domesday Survey suggests that it was post-1086 when a church of such consequence, perhaps being in stone, was constructed and so led to the name change.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The two-step, plain arcade arches, keeled shafts and necking, and the use of early stiff-leaf in the same context as waterleaf capitals suggests a late 12thc. date for the Romanesque material here. Another possibility, however, is the presence of experienced sculptors in the early 13thc. workshop responsible for the nave arcades; sculptors who brought with them a tradition of earlier forms and motifs.

IX Bibliography