The Chancel Arch

A detail of the chancel arch

Looking at all of the walls inside St. Helen’s church, there are remnants of the thick layers of lime wash - removed during one of the restorations undertaken by the Victorians – which obscure a lot of the tool marks and other details but, once you get your eye in, it is possible to see evidence of the raising of the clerestory and other phases of repair.

A squint and corbel in St. Helen's church

The chancel arch wall appears to have been built in a single phase of construction; however, the 3 corbels, along with various others that can be seen in the walls above the arcades – especially in the south aisle – don’t seem to serve any kind of structural purpose.

The chancel arch

According to the Visitors’ Guide, the chancel arch wall is considered to be of the same date of the north arcade – Norman – but Pevsner thought that the arch itself was in the same style as the 13th century south arcade, although strangely narrow.

The east side of the chancel arch

Looking closely at the chancel arch, the imposts are made from Rotherham Red sandstone, as seen in the south arcade and tower, but they are not carved; however, they have provided the foundation for the square profiled dolomitic limestone capitals, from which the arch springs.

A detail of the chancel arch

A closer examination shows that various sections of the arch have been restored in a stone with a yellowish colour and banding. Standing at the top of a step ladder, with a 500w torch to illuminate an examination of the limestone with a hand lens, I could only stretch high enough to give a scratch test to this unknown stone.

A detail of the chancel arch