St Giles, Graffham, Sussex

I Location

Site Location: Graffham
National Grid Reference: SU 929 167
County: traditional: Sussex
now: West Sussex
Diocese: medieval: Chichester
now: Chichester
Dedication: medieval: not confirmed
now (or name of monument): St Giles
Type of building/monument: Parish church

II General Description

This church was virtually rebuilt by GE Street or his firm in 1874-87. It now comprises a three-bay aisled nave and a square-ended chancel with an organ chamber on its N side, and a chapel on it S. All that was retained of the medieval (largely late 12thc.) church were the nave and chapel arcades.

IV Interior Features

2. Arcades

a. Choir

(i) S arcade

: Chancel, S arcade, capital from SW

The chapel on the S side of the chancel is separated from it by a two-bay arcade carried by a central cylindrical pier. The arches are pointed, of one order, and chamfered. The square, multi-scalloped capital is surmounted by a narrow impost block with a grooved upright and a hollow. The SW corner of the impost block is damaged, the NW corner repaired. There are six cones on each side of the capital, separated by sheaths and crowned by plain shields. The waterholding base has stiff-leaf foliage spurs.

Dimensions

h. of capital inc. necking	0.22 m
h. of capital inc. necking and impost block	0.31 m
w. of capital	0.72 m (N side); 0.725 m (S and W sides); 0.73 m (E side)

c. Nave

The three-bay arcades on the S and N sides of the nave have pointed arches of one order, with chamfered edges. On both sides they are carried by cylindrical piers with square multi-scallop capitals. The impost blocks simply comprise an upright and a hollow. The bases are of different types. Plain impost blocks serve as W responds, and there are no E responds. While the W piers are original, the E piers were built in the 19thc., replacing former responds.

(i) S arcade

Pier 1 (19thc.)

: Nave, S arcade, pier 1, capital from SE

There are nine cones on each side of the square, multi-scalloped capital, but they are cylindrical rather than conical in shape. Those on the angles meet in a V-formation. They have plain shields, and are not separated by sheaths. The base of the pier is waterholding, without spurs.

Dimensions

h. of capital inc. necking	0.215 m
h. of capital inc. necking and impost block	0.33 m
w. of capital	0.62 m (N, W and S); 0.625 m (E)

Pier 2 (late-12thc.)

: Nave, S arcade, pier 2, capital from SE

There are seven cones on each side of this square multi-scalloped capital, and one on each angle. The cones are once again cylindrical in shape rather than conical, and are now slightly convex, a form which disguises the transition from cone to shield. There are no sheaths. The base of the pier, cylindrical with a single torus moulding, appears to have been recut, and the impost block is heavily repaired.

Dimensions

h. of capital inc. necking	0.245 m
h. of capital inc. necking and impost block	0.35 m
w. of capital	0.59 m (N); 0.60 m (S); 0.615 m (E) and 0.64 m (W)

(ii) N arcade

Pier 1 (19thc.)

: Nave, N arcade, pier 1, capital from NE

The capital is of the same type as the corresponding capital of the S arcade (see above). There are shallow incisions around the edges of the shields, and the surface of the capital appears to bear traces of white and red paint. The waterholding base has no spurs.

Dimensions

h. of capital inc. necking	0.21 m
h. of capital inc. necking and impost block	0.33 m
w. of capital	0.62 m (N, S, E and W)

Pier 2 (late-12thc.)

: Nave, N arcade, pier 2, capital from NE

A square, multi-scalloped capital with seven cones on each face, a flat, pointed leaf on each of the NE and SE angles and half-length cones on the NW and SW angles. The cones are irregular and cylindrical; some are convex. The shields are plain, and there are no sheaths. The surface of the capital appears to have been recut, especially in the centre of the N and S sides. The SE angles of the impost block has been renewed. The attic base also seems to have been recut.

Dimensions

h. of capital inc. necking	0.18 m
h. of capital inc. necking and impost block	0.33 m
w. of capital	0.63 m (E); 0.65 m (W); 0.655 m (N and S)

V Furnishings

1. Fonts

(i)

: Font, from W

Situated in the third bay of the N arcade. A plain, lead-lined tub (cylindrical) on two plinths, the upper one cylindrical and the lower one rectangular. There are traces of red and white paint and diagonal tooling on the surface of the bowl, and some repairs on the W side of the rim.

Dimensions

h. of bowl only	0.485 m
h. of bowl and cylindrical plinth	0.65 m
circ.	1.955 m
ext. diam.	0.625 m
int. diam.	0.50 m

VII History

Graffham had a church in 1086. The entire building, except the nave arcades and tower was rebuilt in 1875. The tower was rebuilt in 1887.

VIII Comments/Opinions

The original nave arcade capitals date from the second half of the 12thc.

IX Bibliography

J. Morris and J. Mothersill (ed.), Domesday Book: Sussex. Chichester 1976, 11,17.
Graffham, St Giles, guide, nd: Some Notes on the Church of Saint Giles Graffham.
I. Nairn and N. Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Sussex. Harmondsworth 1965, 231 (no mention of font).
Victoria County History: Sussex. 4 (Chichester Rape) 1953, 59-60.
A. K. Walker, An Introduction to the Study of English Fonts with Details of those in Sussex. London 1908, 48-49.