All Saints
Kings Langley, Hertfordshire
A 13th century church with the tomb of the 1st Duke of York.
The church was started in 1140 during the civil war between King Stephen and Queen Matilda taking around 40 years to build. It is built of flint and stone with some Roman bricks and local puddingstone. The shape is cruciform with typical Norman arches to the nave and tower all of which are decorated slightly differently. The chancel and vestry passage have a fan vaulted ceiling suggesting that the latter may well have been something else in the past!
The west door is impressive and provides a great background for wedding photos. There is a variety of stained glass windows, hatchments, memorials and interesting graffiti cut into the columns. The Norman tower accommodates a ring of 8 well used bells and is topped with an impressive octagonal lead clad timber spire dating from the 14th century. The churchyard was closed in 1876 and is now looked after by the local Council providing an extension to the adjacent Gadebridge Park.
