The market town of Daventry blossomed in the 18th century, it’s economy benefitting from the increase in coaching traffic which was diverted here off the London to Dublin road (Watling Street : A5).
It was the stop off north of Towcester. One of the beneficiaries was the church, rather the new church which was erected here in the 1750’s to the design of Charles Hiorne of Warwick.
It is in the Metropolitan style derived in part from James Gibb’s St Martins in the Fields, London but here transformed by the architect and his splendid use of local ironstone.
It is a powerful design: it’s balanced classical façade topped by a massive tower, an octagon clock storey, and finished with an obelisk as a spire. Internally its Georgian quality remains as strong with the survival of three galleries and fitments. Note the marquetry pulpit, the readers desks and reredos all from the mid 18th century. This is a church that Hogarth, Handel, or Lawrence Sterne would have felt comfortable in and so will you.
Please refer to the Glossary for any terms in the text that you are unfamiliar with.
