Church Of St Mary

NZ 11 SW WYCLIFFE WITH THORPE WYCLIFFE

7/201 Church of St. Mary

12.1.67

GV I

Parish Church. Mid-C13, remodelled in mid-C14, restored late C19. Rubble with re-used squared-blocks in west end and lower courses; cut dressings. Low-pitched C20 roofs not visible, except for graduated stone slates on porch and vestry. Aisleless 4-bay nave with south porch and 3-bay chancel with north vestry; axis of chancel deflected to south.

Nave has chamfered plinth except at west end; large stepped buttresses, those at west end diagonal. West window of 3 lancet lights with pierced spandrels, under hoodmould with animal-head stops; gabled bellcote with twin arches above. C14 south porch with chamfered plinth, and double-chamfered arch on semi-octagonal responds with moulded imposts; hoodmould over. Parapet has central gable with restored sundial; small chamfered window in west wall. Inside porch are restored stone benches and old studded south door in double- chamfered arch. To west of porch is a window of 3 lancet lights under a hollow-chamfered arch, to east two C14 3-light windows with flowing tracery and moulded hoods. Built into wall between the windows are 2 stone shields from a late medieval altar tomb and a fine late-C13 cross slab. North wall of nave has C19 studded door in old moulded arch, and at east end a restored C13 window of 2 lancet lights with a vesica over.

Chancel has a lower chamfered plinth and stepped buttresses at angles. South C19 studded door, in old chamfered arch, and three C14 3-light windows as in nave; the 5-light east window is late C19 re-using a few medieval pieces. North C13 2-light window like that on north of nave, but unrestored. Vestry has flat-faced 2-light mullioned window of c.1700 in architrave. Parapets were heightened by c.l metre in the late C19.

Interior: Chancel colour-washed. Double-chamfered chancel arch with hoodmould to nave, on moulded imposts. Shouldered doorway to vestry. Small piscina,with broken bowl, in chancel, adjacent to sedile formed by lowered windowsill; similar piscina in nave. Medieval stone altar slab. Important C13 and C14 stained glass in nave and chancel: in north windows C13 grisaille glass with heraldry, in south windows C14 Holy Trinity, Majesty, Virgin and Child (twice). St. James the Great, St. Bartholomew and angel musicians. At west end of nave several Pre-Conquest cross fragments and an Anglo- Scandinavian hogback, also medieval cross slabs and a low-relief half-effigy. On chancel floor an incised slab to John Forster, rector, c.1456; and three brasses to C15 and C16 members of Wycliffe family. Bequest board dated 1870 telling of C18 benefactor; repainted C18 Royal Arms, pater and text boards. Three C18 brass chandeliers. 1898 carved font. C20 fittings by Thompson of Kilburn, and 1963 coffered ceilings by William Whitfield. Two bells dated 1607 (not seen).

Listing NGR: NZ1167914325