Nominal: 957.5 Hz Weight: 784 lbs Diameter: 33.5" Bell 1 of 3
Founded by Henry Jordan
Dove Bell ID: 6643 Tower ID: 10022 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Tadlow: St Giles
Diocese of Ely
Friendless Church, 614148
http://www.shingaychurches.co.ukThis church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (verified 2025-11-06)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
Overview
Grid reference: TL 279 476
C13 nave and chancel, and c.1400 west tower. Restored 1859-66 under supervision of William Butterfield. Tower repaired 1893-94.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
West tower, nave, chancel, north vestry and south porch.
Dimensions:
Chancel 19’ x 17’6’’; Nave 52’6’’ N and 54’ S x 19’; W tower 10’9’’ x 10’.
Footprint of Church buildings: 251 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
As the site of a church since at least the eleventh century the church and its churchyard have considerable archaeological potential. Prehistoric remains, Roman coins and medieval remains have also been made in the vicinity.
Many burials in the open churchyard, and some evidence for intramural burial. Considerable archaeological potential of church and churchyard. Mature trees and shrubs on all sides, including a majestic cedar (taller than the tower) by the S door and yews E with badger setts beneath. Butterfly wings in the tower may indicate the presence of bats.
The church is likely to be of pre-Norman foundation: the Victoria County History records that when in 1092 the house of Austin Canons, which later became Barnwell Priory, was founded its endowments included Tadlow church. The advowson of the vicarage established by 1275 remained with Barnwell until the dissolution, and thence from the Castells to the Downings, and after 1800 to Downing College, still patron in the 1970s. The church was formerly dedicated to St John the Baptist but was dedicated to St Giles by 1748.
On Christmas Day in 1638 the congregation at Tadlow was prevented from taking communion by a dog stealing the sacrament from the holy table: “for that in the sermon time the dog of William Staple came to the communion table (which stood without any rail or enclosure before it) and leaping up took the loaf of bread prepared for the sacrament and ran away with it in its mouth which although some of the parishioners took from the dog and set it again upon the table, yet the vicar … thought not meet to consecrate that bread” (Lambeth Palace MS 943, p.616, quoted by Sharpe (1992) p.341). The incident was publicised by supporters of Archbishop Laud as evidence of the need for returning communion tables to the east ends of churches and enclosing them within rails.
The nineteenth-century restorer of the church, William Butterfield, was a pioneer of Victorian Gothic architecture and particularly of the use of ‘structural polychromy’, whereby colour was introduced to a building via construction in a variety of materials, rather than being subsequently applied. Butterfield is widely considered one of the most important architects of the nineteenth century.
Exterior Description
W tower C15 (finished by 1472, when a bequest was made for a spire), perpendicular, in three stages, out of alignment with the nave and chancel. Clasping buttresses to tower, W. W doorway in pointed arch with continuous moulding and square head having dagger tracery to the spandrels. Several small window openings, and large W window of two cinquefoil lights in four centred arch with label; bell stage has two similar openings in four centred arch. Clock face to middle stage, S. Top of tower has a low parapet wall and a lead roof (a shallow pyramid) and is topped with a weather-vane.
Chancel and aisleless nave substantially C13. Angle buttresses to nave W and SE, and coped gables topped by cross finials to nave E and chancel. Two C13 lancets to nave, N; S wall refenestrated, c14-C15, three windows of two cinquefoil lights with vertical tracery in depressed arch. S lancets to chancel, and E window with three graduated lancets, inserted by Butterfield in his restoration of 1859-66 (E wall rebuilt String course runs beneath chancel windows N and S, stepping up to run beneath E window.
S porch by Butterfield: coped S gable, weathered angle buttresses, plinth, hoodmould to doorway. Porch now encloses C13 S doorway: two centred arch with two orders of colonnettes and a fine arch moulding with one keeled and one unkeeled roll, now enclosed within S porch. Vestry projects to NE of nave, with lancets E and W and square-topped chimney projecting from roof. Blocked-up doorway with hoodmould to N side of nave, with a boiler chimney by Butterfield above.
Building Fabric and Features
Nave
13th century
Chancel
13th century
Tower (component)
15th century c1400
Vestry
20th century north
Porch
20th century south
Building Materials
Stone
13th century fieldstone
Limestone
13th century and clunch dressings
Wood
13th century roof structure
Interior
Interior Description
The roofs date from Buttefield’s restoration: nave roof of five bays, with braced collar trusses with spandrel brackets; chancel has a canted boarded ceiling, with painted decoration by Harland & Fisher to the rafters and wall plate. Beneath the wall plate is a band of decorated tiles that runs across the east wall and into the splayed reveals of the E window.
Red and black quarry tiles to floor of nave aisle, with cast-iron ventilation grilles; wooden pew platforms. Checkerboard pattern in red and black quarry tiles and stone to floor of chancel; polychrome tiles to floor of sanctuary and altar platform. Pattern of red and black tiles and stone in floor of S porch. Worn effigial slab set in nave floor in front of S porch. Two steps up at chancel arch, a further step at communion rail, and an altar platform of a single step.
The nave and chancel walls are plastered and painted white. Thin strips of red tile run horizontally around the walls, including into the window reveals; the E wall incorporates vertical tile strips and polychrome tiles, and a reredos with geometric patterns in coloured tile and marble. The S windows are framed by sawtooth decoration to the plaster; the top of the E window and nave N windows are framed by a strip of red tiles.
Two centred tower arch of two chamfered orders, the inner on engaged shaft with moulded capital and base; similar arches to chancel and (lower) to vestry in N wall. Above pulpit is the rear arch of a blocked lancet, with sawtooth surround.
The font is in the base of the tower. In the NE corner of the tower is a low doorway with a Tudor arch, with a nail-studded C16 or C17 door leading to a spiral staircase to the clock chamber and bell-chamber, and thence via a ladder and roof-hatch to the tower leads. The tower staircase and doorway feature much carved graffiti.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
19th century Timber, pierced with quatrefoils and cusped lancets. Though not mentioned directly by Thompson (1971), shares aesthetic motifs with choir stalls and pulpit and presumably dates to Butterfield restoration.
Pulpit
19th century Timber, decorated with colonnettes, pierced quatrefoils and cusped lancets. Brass reading stand and candle-holder. Though not mentioned directly by Thompson (1971), shares aesthetic motifs with choir stalls and altar and presumably dates to Butterfield restoration.
Lectern
19th century Timber, chamfered shaft decorated with quatrefoils, on an octagonal base decorated with pieced cusped lancets with gablets. Presumably dates to Butterfield restoration.
Font (component)
19th century Grey marble octagonal bowl with panelled sides having raised gables in relief and intaglio quatrefoil of white marble. Broach stopped octagonal stem. Designed by Butterfield, made by Field Poole & Sons.
Reredos
19th century Geometric patterns in coloured tile and marble, with central cross. Designed by Butterfield, made by Field Poole & Sons.
Pew (component)
19th century Timber. Chamfered, geometric ends decorated with colonnettes. Butterfield.
Stall
19th century Choir and clergy stalls with pierced decoration and cusped lancets. Butterfield.
Rail
19th century Timber, pierced with trefoils and cusped lancets with colonnettes. Butterfield.
Organ (component)
19th century 1865, Bates & Son. Dummy front pipes. Electric blower installed c.1960.
Clock
19th century Gillett & Bland No. 2 gravity with strike train, manufactured 1882. One convex copper dial. The manufacturer’s instructions for winding and regulating the clock still hang on the wall of the clock chamber.
Inscribed Object
15th - 20th century Effigial slab in front of the S door, now much worn. A framed description hangs on the wall of the tower and records that it is to the memory of Margaret, wife of William Brogriffe (or Brograve), d.1493, with six children at the feet of the principal figure. Stone tablet with painted crest in memory of the Revd. St John Wells Lucas, MA of Downing College Cambridge, vicar of Tadlow and rector of East Hatley for 13 years, d. July 4 1853. Tablet erected by his brother, Major Lucas, late of the 29th Regiment of Foot. Signed S. Cundy, Pimlico. (Pictured) Benefaction board beside the S door in memory of Thomas MacGregor, recording the establishment of the MacGregor Benefaction for the benefit of the poor of Tadlow, by his daughter Eliza Jane Higgins of Boston, Mass., USA, by her will dated 27 May 1913.
Stained Glass (window)
19th century Windows by A. Gibbs, installed as part of Butterfield’s restoration of 1859-66: - E window 3 light: “And the third day / he rose again / according to the scriptures” – “This window is erected to the glory of God by Godfrey Milnes Sykes / Vicar of this parish and Mary Anne his wife / in the year of our Lord 1866.” - Nave, S(3), 2 light – Annunciation. “Hail thou that art highly favoured Behold the handmaid of the Lord” – “This window is erected / to the glory of God / by the labouring men and women / of this parish in the year of our Lord 1866.” Also: - Nave, S(1), 2 light. Passion flowers. “In affectionate memory of James & Susanna / King by their surviving children Iune [sic] 24th 1863.” - Also a few small fragments of medieval glass at the top of one lancet in the second nave S window: the lower half of a draperied figure, and pieces of a decorative border.
Bells
Nominal: 1236.5 Hz Weight: 548 lbs Diameter: 28.75" Bell 2 of 3
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1893
Dove Bell ID: 41954 Tower ID: 10022 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1092 Hz Weight: 629 lbs Diameter: 30.5" Bell 3 of 3
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1893
Dove Bell ID: 41955 Tower ID: 10022 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Portable Furnishings and Artworks
Registers said to date from 1585, with interval from 1617-53, but not seen.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TL 279 476
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
'Seek advice' Species
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
Caring for God's Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.
To learn more about all the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.
Further information
Sources
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