Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church largely dating to the 13th century, with significant alterations in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. It was rebuilt in 1768 by Thomas Bell, further modified in 1823 by E.J. Wilson, and with work in 1912 by Temple Moore, alongside minor 20th-century additions. Constructed from squared limestone rubble with slate roofs, the church comprises a three-stage western tower, a nave, a chancel, two aisles, a south porch, and a north vestry.

The western tower, built in 1768, features an offset belfry stage and an embattled parapet with angle pinnacles. A "Gothick" west door is topped with a crocketed ogee head supported by half round side shafts. Above is a 2-light window from the 19th century, and above that a plaque commemorating the 1768 rebuilding by Thomas Bell, alongside a black-faced clock within a lozenge-shaped surround. The belfry stage has louvred, semi-circular headed lights on all faces. The north aisle’s west end has a 2-light 19th-century window, beyond which is a gabled north vestry designed by Temple Moore, containing a 3-light window with elaborate mouchettes and quatrefoils. A plaque records the vestry’s 1912 construction in memory of Bishop King. A 20th-century addition is situated alongside. To the east side is a 2-light window paired with a fixed light, and a planked door. The north aisle has three sets of reset 14th-century 3-light windows with cusped heads and hood moulds. The north clerestory holds four paired lights, characteristically with hollow chamfered reveals and cusped heads. The east wall of the north aisle displays a smaller 2-light 14th-century window mirroring the others. The chancel terminates in a facetted apse with 2-light ogee headed, cusped windows. The south side is mirrored to the north. The gabled south porch has an outer, moulded 2-centred arch with hood, and incorporates side benches and an inner pointed doorway.

Inside, the late 13th-century north and south arcades, each spanning three bays, feature octagonal piers and capitals. The arches are double chamfered with hood moulds, displaying ammonite and head labels on the south side and human head carvings on the north. To the east of the south aisle is a 19th-century moulded doorway to a former vestry, and in the north aisle, the entrance to another former vestry. A further double chamfered arch is found in the chancel, the eastern respond of which has a half round capital with foliage, and traces of red paint above it. The chancel showcases an elaborately painted 19th-century king post roof with inscribed texts. A 19th-century reredos, screen, and rood screen are present, along with two reused 17th-century bench ends located in the chancel. The late 18th-century octagonal font sits atop a tall pillar and features trefoil decoration on its panels. The north aisle contains stained glass from 1917 by Burlison and Grylls, depicting the founder of the Bluecoat School, Lincoln, and another from 1919 commemorating the Royal Air Force at Scampton. A hatchment is affixed to the west wall of the nave, and a holy water stoup stands beside the lectern.