Monument record WRW 015 - Church of All Saints (Med)

All Saints' church, Wordwell, is situated S of the parish. There is a church recorded here in the Domesday book. The church suffered such rigorous restoration in the C19 that externally little of interest remains, though the stone quoins and the coursed rubble on the N side obviously stamp it as a very early building. A faint scratch dial remains on the SE angle of the nave. There is little doubt that the whole structure is early C12 (S1). The nave and chancel were restored in 1868. Two Norman doorways survive, both with one order of shafts, primitive volute capitals, and carved tympana. That on the S side represents the Tree of Life with two affronted hounds. The branches and leaves spread and intertwine. The N tympanum is a puzzle, it faces inwards and represents two childishly done figures, an earlier than Norman date seems likely. The chancel arch is also Norman with volute capitals. The arch has one big roll moulding and two large Decorated niches, no doubt for side altars. The benches have poppy-heads, animals and carved backs (S2).