Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary

A parish church of exceptional architectural importance, with a chancel dating from the 13th century (altered in the 15th century), a 14th-century north transept, south aisle and south porch, and a 15th-century north aisle and south transept. The west tower and spire, originally 15th century, were completely rebuilt in 1876. The church underwent many restoration projects in the later 19th century, with the nave roof restored in 1967 and the chancel re-roofed in 1968.

The building is constructed of ironstone and limestone. The west tower is divided into 3 stages internally but externally defined as 6 stages by string courses, with stepped angle buttresses. The west door is arched with shields in the spandrels under a square hood; the shields bear emblems of the Passion and arms of the de Roos family. Above this is a 4-light transomed window, with 2-light ringing chamber windows and taller 2-light belfry windows above. The parapet is crenellated with 4 square corner pinnacles. The recessed octagonal crocketed spire features 3 tiers of gabled lucarnes placed alternately on the facets, each containing 2 lights.

The nave features 3-light Perpendicular windows under square hoods on label stops. The tall gabled south porch has a moulded arched entrance below an upper window, with a blocked external door on the west side that originally led to a parvise; the porch is now open on the interior. The side buttresses support an upper reticulated window on the east side.

The gabled transepts are supported by angle buttresses and lit through 5-light Perpendicular windows. The south gable window of the south transept is set under a pointed arch, whilst the corresponding north window is under a basket arch. The south transept displays a parapet frieze of shields within quatrefoils.

The clerestory comprises 11 windows arranged 2 per bay, all 3-light with lozenge tracery and arched heads below hoods, separated by elaborate gargoyles. The parapet carries a frieze of shields within quatrefoils, with 2 crocketed pinnacles per bay and larger polygonal pinnacles at the east returns.

The chancel has 2 tiers of windows to the south, all of 3 cusped lights under square heads: 3 to the lower stage and 6 to the upper. The north chancel contains a Perpendicular 3-bay vestry with windows of varying design and size. The 5-light Perpendicular east window is set under a depressed arch.

The interior contains a 4-bay arcade of octagonal piers with moulded polygonal capitals and bases, supporting double chamfered arches. Wider quatrefoil piers support the transept arches to the east. The 19th-century chancel arch displays a large coat of arms and the initials V R (Queen Victoria), above which faint fragments of wall paintings remain, though their subject and date are indecipherable.

The clerestory windows have moulded jambs. The nave roof is nearly flat, constructed of ties on wall posts, a ridge piece and one pair of butt purlins. A restored 15th-century octagonal font stands in the nave, with a stem of 3 bulbous carved shafts and a bowl carved with flowers and angels in arched panels, most details being 19th-century work. A polygonal timber pulpit of 1631 features arcaded panels with floral design and a hexagonal stem.

The north side of the chancel has a 13th-century arcade leading into the Perpendicular vestry. The chancel roof is similar to that of the nave.

The chancel contains an exceptional collection of monuments. An inscription plate to Robert de Roos and his wife, dated 1285, displays a marble figure of Robert. Brasses commemorate Henry de Codynton (1404) and John Freeman (early 15th century). Two effigies of knights lie on chests either side of the altar: William de Roos (1414) and John de Roos (1421).

Monuments to the first 8 Earls of Rutland are positioned further west in the chancel. The first six are of alabaster, the remainder of marble. The monument to the First Earl, dated 1543, is by Richard Parker. The Second Earl's monument dates from 1563. The Third Earl's monument (1591) and Fourth Earl's monument (1591) are both by Gerard Johnson. The Fifth Earl's monument (1612) is by Nicholas Johnson, and the Sixth Earl's monument dates from 1632. The monuments to the Seventh Earl (1684) and Eighth Earl (1684) are both by Grinling Gibbons.