The size of the church, measured within the walls, was 153 feet by 65 feet.[[653]]
Second Church.
The church was, in the early years of the 17th century, in danger of falling, as indeed some of it did, causing a void at the upper end of the chancel “which was stored with Lumber, as the Boards of Coffins and Deadmen’s Bones.” A screen was erected at the expense of Lady Dudley “to hide it from the beholders’ eyes, which could not but be troubled at it.”[[654]] A further collapse caused the parishioners to decide to erect a new church. This was begun in 1623 and finished in 1631. The cost of building amounted to £2,068, all of which, with the exception of £252 borrowed, was obtained from voluntary offerings. The largest contributor was Lady Dudley, who gave £250, and, in addition, paid for the paving of the church and chancel. A small sketch of the church is given by Hollar in his plan of 1658 (Plate 3), and a lithograph (here reproduced) by G. Scharf is in Parton’s Hospital and Parish of St. Giles-in-the-Fields.
Hatton[[655]] gives the length as 123 feet and the breadth 57 feet. The church and steeple appear to have been built of rubbed brick[[656]], surmounted with battlements, and coped with stone.[[656]] A western gallery was erected in 1671, and others to the north and south in 1676–7.
The chancel had a large east window, and one on either side. The nave had a window over the chancel arch, and a large one at the west end.
There were north and south aisles, which must have been of considerable height to admit of the galleries which were subsequently added. They appear to have been of three bays,[[657]] with two windows in each. All the windows, except the westernmost one in the north aisle, were glazed with coloured and painted glass. There were three doors to the church, one beneath the west window and others under the third window from the east of the north aisle and the westernmost window of the south aisle.
No window is mentioned by Strype at the west end of the north aisle, so that it is probable that the tower was attached to the church in this situation. This had battlements and was provided with a vane.
The interior was well furnished and provided with numerous ornaments, many of which were the gift of Lady Dudley.[[658]] Chief among the latter must be mentioned an elaborate screen of carved oak placed where one had formerly stood in the old church. This, as stated in a petition to Parliament in 1640,[[659]] was “in the figure of a beautifull gate, in which is carved two large pillars, and three large statues: on the one side is Paul, with his sword; on the other Barnabas, with his book; and over them Peter with his keyes. They are all set above with winged cherubims, and beneath supported by lions.”
The church had a pair of organs with case richly gilded, and the organ loft was painted with a representation of the Twelve Apostles.