Church Of St Mary Magdalene

Church of St Mary Magdalene

Parish church with origins in the 13th century, substantially developed through the 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. The building comprises a west tower, nave with north and south aisles, chancel, and south porch. Construction is principally in large coursed limestone ashlar and coursed rubble, partly rendered, with ashlar dressings. The roofs are lead.

The west tower is a two-stage structure with a moulded plinth, two string courses, and a crenellated parapet with eight crocketed pinnacles. It is supported by two diagonal buttresses with three setoffs, plain buttresses to the north east and south east with two setoffs, and an additional single buttress to the north east with one setoff. The west window, dated to the 14th century, features a double coved surround with hood mould containing a restored triple lancet with cusped heads, panel tracery and coved mullions. Above the window are clock faces to the north and west. The first stage contains four 15th-century bell openings with hood moulds, each housing triple lancets with panel tracery.

The north aisle comprises five bays and is braced by diagonal corner buttresses and four intermediate buttresses with two setoffs. It has a moulded plinth, string course, and crenellated parapet. A 15th-century four-centred arched doorway lies to the west. To the east are four deep square-headed splayed reveals with hood moulds, each containing round-headed 16th-century triple lancets with chamfered mullions. The east end window is identical. The nave clerestorey spans three bays with a moulded string course, moulded crenellated parapet and gable. The north side has three and the south side has four square-headed chamfered and rebated reveals, each containing 16th-century round-headed triple lancets.

The chancel comprises two bays with a moulded plinth and eaves, and a coped gable with cross. Single buttresses flank the eastern corners with two setoffs. The east end contains a single chamfered and coved opening with coved hood mould, holding a 15th-century quadruple lancet with panel tracery. The south side features an off-centre four-centred arched priest's door with hood mould, flanked by single square-headed coved reveals containing 15th-century triple plain lancets with splayed mullions.

The south aisle spans three bays with a moulded plinth, string course and crenellated parapets. A pair of set-back buttresses occurs to the south east, a single diagonal buttress to the south west, and two intermediate buttresses, all with two setoffs. To the east are two square-headed coved and rebated surrounds containing 15th-century plain triple lancets with coved mullions; the east window is similar.

The south porch is 19th-century in 13th-century style with a chamfered and rebated doorway featuring octagonal responds, bases and capitals. Above is a shouldered coped gable with cross and a principal rafter roof with moulded ridge. The south doorway, dated to the 15th century, has a cove and roll moulded surround with a 19th-century close-boarded door.

Interior

The nave north and south arcades are 13th-century, comprising three bays with octagonal piers on broached square bases and octagonal capitals, the north aisle bearing nailhead decoration. The arches are plain double chamfered and rebated. The clerestorey contains splayed square-headed openings. A 15th-century kingpost roof has principal timbers that are moulded; one tie beam is inscribed '1713'. The tower arch is 13th-century, double chamfered and rebated, with crenellated imposts.

Fittings include a tapered octagonal font on a square base, inscribed 'R C B W 1663'; an oak pulpit of late 17th-century date; three 17th-century oak pews with the remainder as 19th-century replicas; a Decorated timber screen to the tower arch, circa 1906; and 19th-century stained glass in the west window.

The north aisle is rendered and retains a reset mask corbel in its west end and a plain window opening. A blocked window occupies the west side, whilst to the east is a Tudor arched opening to the north door, beyond which are two 15th-century Tudor arched windows. The roof is 19th-century with moulded oak pews of the same period.

The south aisle is rendered and its east window contains 20th-century stained glass. Two splayed windows occupy the south wall, with the south door beyond to the west. The 15th-century roof features moulded principal rafters with curved brackets. A benefaction board and 19th-century moulded pews are present.

The chancel arch is 13th-century, double chamfered and rebated with octagonal imposts. Cut-down remains of a 15th-century screen of five panels, linked to the pulpit, survive.

The chancel north arcade comprises two 13th-century bays with a single round pier having a moulded octagonal base and roll moulded capital. The arches are double chamfered and rebated with a canted moulded impost to the west and a keeled respond to the east.

The chancel north chapel is rendered. To the north are two splayed square-headed windows, with a similar east window. The 15th-century roof features moulded principal timbers, the east bay having diagonal matchboard. A 15th-century timber screen of six bays with panel tracery is arranged to form a vestry. To the north is a slate and alabaster monument to Francis Williamson, dated 1639, by Edward Marshall. The monument comprises a panelled rectangular base, above which are three kneeling figures, surmounted by an aedicule with Doric columns carrying a hood with a cartouche containing arms, and two further facing kneeling figures.

The chancel east wall contains a rectangular double aumbry with rebated surround to the north; the east window retains fragments of 19th-century glass. The south wall has a small piscina in a chamfered surround to the east, with a central square-headed splayed doorway flanked by single splayed square-headed windows. The 15th-century kingpost roof has roll-moulded principal timbers with carved bosses and pendants.