Architecture

The South Elevation

The earliest historical record of the Church in Old Bolingbroke dates from the Domesday Book entry of 1088 which confirms that there had been an Anglo Saxon building here in the days of Edward the Confessor. Unfortunately there are no existing portions of this earlier building.

The current structure was constructed in the middle of the 14th century. The tower was rebuilt in the 15th century with funding provided by the Duc d’Orleans (while resident as a hostage in the Castle). In 1889 an extensive Victorian restoration included the addition of a new North Aisle.

The Church was originally a much larger building (almost three times the size of the present Nave) but extensive damage during the English Civil War seige of the Castle in 1643 rendered the original Nave, Chancel and North Aisle un-useable and they were subsequently demolished.

The remaining South Aisle was was repurposed as Nave and Chancel and remained in a perilous state until the extensive Victorian restoration in 1889 by the Architect James Fowler, including the addition of a new North Aisle.

The Church’s Architecture is noted for its very high quality 14th century windows featuring very elaborate stonework. Unfortunately all of the stained glass was destroyed during the Civil War but a fragment has been preserved in the clerestory over the entry porch.