Church Of St Mary

BAOSNURTH NEW ROAD SE41SE 6/39 Church of St. Mary 25.3.1968 6V I

Parish church. Mostly C15, with some earlier fabric; tower restored in 1935. Coursed squared sandstone, stone slate roofs. West tower, nave with north and south aisles, chancel with added north vestry. Four-stage tower has diagonal buttresses, weathered plinth, weathered bands on 3 levels; 2-centred arched west doorway with 3 orders of moulding, and hoodmould; large 2-centred arched west window of 3 lights with Perpendicular tracery, hollow-moulded reveal, and hoodmould; above this, a small crocketed niche; 2-light belfry windows with transoms and cinquefoil lights with wooden louvres, hollow- moulded surrounds and hoodmoulds with figured stops; restored embattled parapet with crocketed corner pinnacles; clockface on south side of 3rd stage. Low buttressed 4-bay aisles embracing tower; late C19 or early C20 gabled porch to 1st bay of south aisle; large 4-centred arched windows of 3 cusped lights, with mouchette tracery in the heads (restored mullions and tracery),double-chamfered reveals and hoodmoulds; similar windows at east and west ends; embattled parapet; north aisle similar except that windows have cinquefoil lights and Perpendicular tracery; and next to that in the centre is a very small 2-centred arched C13 doorway. Nave has three 2-light clerestory windows in similar style, and embattled parapet. Low 2-bay chancel of restored ashlar masonry has two 4-centred arched 3-light windows. with cinquefoil lights, chamfered reveals, and hoodmoulds with figured stops;. small C14 arched doorway between windows; plain parapet; large 2-centred arched east window of 5 cinquefoil lights with Perpendicular tracery, double- chamfered reveal, and hoodmould with figured stops. Interior: 3-bay arcades of octagonal columns with moulded caps, double- chamfered arches; chancel has low 2-bay north arcade in matching style; on south wall of chancel a fine marble wall monument to Sir John Bright (d.1688): bowed, with a lengthy inscription on the square central panel, which is carved as if thinly veiled by drapery, with a swagged apron and very elaborately carved crown including shield of arms, helm, and feather (with radiant sun behind) surmounted by an orb with gadrooned cap, all surrounded by foliated scrolls etc. (Sir John Bright was a prominent leader of Parliamentary forces in Yorkshire during the Civil War, and came to Badsworth in 1652); near south doorway, octagonal C15 font, with traceried panels; stained glass windows in north and south aisles, by Kenpe 1893 and c1900. Reference: Pevsner.

Listing NGR: SE4632914971