Who's playing in the church

today I am grave reading in Compton and having a look in the church St Nicholas’ Church, Compton is the parish church of the Church of England parish of Compton, Surrey, near Guildford in Surrey, England. It is a Grade I listed building and is widely regarded as one of the most architecturally significant medieval churches in the county, notable for its rare two-storey sanctuary and substantial pre-Conquest fabric. The church stands on a sandy spur overlooking the village and valley below. According to the Victoria County History, the west tower is of exceptionally rude construction, built entirely of rag rubble without ashlar dressings, and its form and narrow round-headed openings strongly suggest a date prior to the Norman Conquest. Early masonry of similar character survives in the quoins of the nave. The shell of the chancel walls is thought to be of late 11th-century origin, although later altered and heightened. The church is recorded in the Domesday Survey of Compton in 1086, confirming its existence by the late Anglo-Saxon period. 12th-century enlargement During the 12th century the church underwent major enlargement and reordering. Around 1160 the nave arcades, north and south aisles, and chancel arch were constructed in hard chalk, and a larger tower arch replaced an earlier opening. The nave is notable for narrowing slightly towards the east, a feature possibly reflecting phased construction. About 1180 the eastern part of the chancel was remodelled to form a highly unusual two-storey sanctuary. The older walls were thickened internally to provide additional support for vaulting, creating a vaulted lower sanctuary with an upper chapel above—an arrangement described by the Victoria County History as extremely rare in English parish churches. Later medieval and post-medieval changes In the 14th and 15th centuries the south aisle was heightened and several windows were altered or replaced. Medieval tomb recesses were inserted in the north aisle, and fittings such as squints and piscinae were added or modified to reflect evolving liturgical practice.[1] The church was restored in 1843 under the architect Henry Woodyer, with further works undertaken in 1869 and 1906. These interventions repaired fabric and altered some external features while retaining the building’s distinctive medieval character. The church is listed at Grade I on the National Heritage List for England (List Entry Number 1188621), first listed on 14 June 1967 #gravereading #Henrywoodyer #compton #church #churchyard #whatsapp #history #grave #ghost