The present-day church of All Saints' stands on the site of one of two churches listed in the Domesday Book; of the eventual fate of one we know nothing. Neither does the present All Saints' retain any part of the original (pre-Conquest) building.
The church which stands today was initially built by Sir Roger de Compton (who owned the lands of Hawton Manor), and the nave and aisles undoubtedly remain of this edifice. His son was responsible for the chancel which was completed in 1325. The church then underwent no further obvious alteration for over a century, until in 1482 Sit Thomas Molyneux built the tower and also raised the nave to its present height by addition of the clerestory.
Although today's polluted atmospehere plays havoc with stonework and major restorations of churches are frequently called for, upkeep and restoration have always been a necessity. A return of 1638 noted that 'the churchyard wantes a gate and the strong Chist wantes lockes and keyes, there wantes a poor man's box, the uppere end of the North side of the church is unpaved'. The inference is that the fabric of the church was in good condition. Then in 1779-80 the church underwent 'complete and exhaustive' restoration at a cost of £1300- much of this sum raised by subscription.
Restoration was carried out in 1843 when the chancel carvings were found plastered over with successive coats of whitewash. In 1879 the church was 'seriously dilapidated both inside and out, being neither wind nor water-tight, looking shabby and neglected'. These matters were seen to in the restoration of 1884. More recently, a major restoration was carried out in 1965-66.

Description

The major feature of the exterior of the church is the tower. This is a fine example of the late Perpendicular period. Note the eight pinnacles which crown the tower. The tower door is the original: in the spandrels are the coats-of-arms of Sir Thomas Molyneux and his wife, Miss Markham of Cotham. The carved heads have been suggested as being portraits of Sit Thomas and Mary Molyneux. Also on the door are carvings of the signs of the zodiac. On the central band of the door remains an inscription 'Jesu Mercy, Lady Helpe'.

On the inside floor of the tower are several brass memorials: one toward the centre north wall is in memory of 'Johes filius quintius Thomas Heigh de Wigtoft generos'

The oldest part of the church is the nave which dates from the 1280s. Of similar date is the north aisle, separated by three arches supported on octagonal piers. The south aisle is of later date, circa 1330 although the south arcade is of similar design to the north. At the east end of both aisles are windows of the Geometrical period, and on the outer walls of both just west of the windows are contemporary piscinas indicating the existence of former altars at the aisle ends. The other aisle windows date from 1480 and are of the same design as those of the clerestory which was added at the time the tower was built. The line of the earlier nave roof can be seen on the east wall of the nave (above the chancel screen). The pillars are constructed of Ancaster stone, the walls of locally quarried lias.

At the east end of the nave is the chancel screen, probably dating from the 3rd quarter of the 17th century. The old rood loft was pulled down in 1560 but a small fragment remains on the north wall just above the screen. The nave roof is original, i.e. about 1480.

The glory of Hawton church is the chancel built about 1325 and the Curvilinear east window is one of the finest large windows of its period in England. Oddly, the other chancel windows were built in the Geometrical style. In the south wall is the priest's door, with numerous carved heads. On the north side of the chancel is the founder's tomb: the effigy of Sir Thomas in chain mail, with legs crossed, lying on the back of a lion. It was mutilated, presumably by the Roundheads. To the left of the tomb is a doorway which led into a (now demolished) hermitage- a 1330 record states that Peter de Whitelegge was a hermit in the chapel of Saint Wilfrid at Hawton. A squint hole still exists which gave the hermit a view of the main altar.

On the south wall of the chancel is the finely carved sedillia, originally provided for officiating clergy. At the very top are six saints standing on little men and animals, and crowned with angels. Lower are four female figures, then St Edward the Martyr, with a bishop on either side, and above are- on the left St Peter and, on the right St Nicholas. Further down still are two men on all fours gathering grapes among the foliage, and a pelican in her nest.

Beside the sedilia is a double piscina , again richly carved. On the opposite wall is the feature for which Hawton is justly famed:

		far left: East Window nexf left: Sedilia below: Easter Sepulchre far left: lower portion next left: centre portion below: upper portion

The Easter Sepulchre
The original purpose of the Easter Sepulchre was to place the reserved Sacrament after Mass on Maundy Thursday. It has always been the church's custom not to celebrate the Sacrament after Maundy Thursday in memory of our Lord's statement that He would not drink again of the fruit of the vine until He drank it in His Kingdom. So, on Maundy Thursday the Sacrament was placed in the Sepulchre until Easter morning.
The stonemasons clearly lavished much love and care and one can only regret the destructive work of the Roundheads. The masons are thought to be those who carved the chancel screen in Southwell Minster .
In the lowest part are four Roman soldiers, asleep. They are wearing chain mail helmets and carrying swords and spears. In the middle part is the risen Christ, still with the grave clothes on his left shoulder. To his right are the three women who came to anoint his body: on each side is an angel. In the top section is a scene depicting the Ascension. The soldiers gaze up and a careful look reveals the feet of the ascending Christ.

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