By the late Middle Ages, it is estimated that roughly one in five medieval parish churches in England bore the name All Saints. The dedication was particularly widespread in East Anglia, the Midlands, and parts of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. In some cases, the dedication might reflect a desire to unify a community under the patronage of all holy figures, rather than aligning with a single saint whose cult might be stronger in another region.
Architectural evolution: from Norman to Perpendicular Gothic
Because the dedication “All Saints” does not date to a single period, the churches that bear it offer a fascinating cross-section of English ecclesiastical architecture.
Norman beginnings
Some of the oldest All Saints’ Churches still standing date to the 11th or early 12th centuries, when massive stone walls, round arches, and simple nave layouts were typical. All Saints’ Church in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, is an exceptional early example, although it is actually older than the Norman period — it preserves substantial fabric from the Anglo-Saxon 7th century. shutdown123