Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary

Parish Church. Medieval building with 13th, 14th and 15th century work. Restored by Scott in 1860, with spire repairs in 1883 and chancel restoration in 1890. Built in ashlar with slate roofs. Embattled parapets crown the nave and chancel; the aisles, porch and vestry have coped gables instead.

The church comprises a tower with spire, nave with aisles, south porch, north vestry and chancel. The early 13th century tower is buttressed and set on a plinth with a moulded band above. It rises in 3 stages with decorative bands and is topped with a 15th century spire. Large diagonal buttresses flank the south side, inscribed "Erected MDCCCXXI", with a stair turret at the south east. Single central gargoyles face each side. The west side features a 13th century lancet. The south side of the second stage has a single opening with 2 pointed arched lights and a single central restored attached column with moulded capital. The bell chamber openings to the west, east and south each contain 2 round arched lights with a single central attached column and moulded capital. The north side has a single pair of 19th century rectangular openings. The stair turret displays 3 narrow arched openings in the re-entrant angle.

The north aisle stands on a moulded plinth. Its west wall contains a single arched 14th century 2-light window with cusped tracery, hoodmould and human head label stop to the left. The north wall features a moulded arched doorway with hoodmould and worn human head label stops, flanked to the left by 2 similar 14th century windows with hoodmoulds and human head label stops. The clerestory contains 3 14th century arched windows, each with 3 cinquefoil arched lights. To the left of the aisle and set back is the 19th century vestry with 2 pairs of Caernarvon arched lights, and its east wall has a single pair of pointed arched lights.

The chancel stands on a shallow chamfered plinth with a continuous sill band. The north wall contains a single pointed arched window with Y-tracery and 19th century hoodmould. The diagonally buttressed east end has a single arched window with 4 pointed arched lights, tracery, 19th century hoodmould and label stops. The south chancel wall mirrors the north, with 2 corresponding windows and, to the left, a moulded pointed arched doorway. The east wall displays a single early 14th century window similar to that of the east chancel, with hoodmould and worn human head label stops. The south wall contains 2 pointed arched 14th century windows, each with 2 arched lights, cusped tracery, hoodmould and human head label stops.

The south porch has a moulded arched entrance supported on either side by 2 engaged colonnettes with restored moulded capitals. A 17th century double wooden gate with panels decorated with strap and fret work, topped with small decorative iron spikes, fills the opening. Side walls contain single small arched lights. The inner 13th century moulded arched doorway is supported on engaged colonnettes and moulded capitals, with a 17th century door. To the left is a single similar 14th century window with hoodmould and human label stops. The west wall displays a single similar restored 14th century window with hoodmould and human head label stops. The clerestory above corresponds to that of the north aisle.

Interior

The interior contains 3-bay 13th century nave arcades with double chamfered arches supported on quatrefoil piers and responds with fillets extending into moulded capitals. Wide circular bases support the piers. A tall pointed arched uncut tower arch rises above. The chancel arch is double chamfered and supported on octagonal responds with moulded capitals and continuous imposts. The chancel and vestry are connected by 2-bay double chamfered arches supported on a single circular column and responds with moulded capitals.

A restored and blocked chamfered arched piscina with broach stops sits in the south chancel. The north chancel wall contains an aumbry with remains of a piscina. Further piscinas appear in the south wall of the south aisle and the north wall of the north aisle. Evidence of the former nave roof survives on the tower wall. The south aisle has a continuous sill band.

An early 14th century octagonal font stands supported on piers, each side decorated with a single crocketed gable with finial, supported on single carved human and animal heads. A 17th century table with large turned legs occupies the south aisle; remaining furnishings are 19th century.

A reclining cross legged effigy of Sir John de Lowdham, dated 1318, is clad in chain mail with his head on a pillow supported by 2 angels and feet resting on a dog. Set into the south chancel wall is an early 16th century incised slab of a priest. The north wall displays a row of 4 17th century slate tablets to Charles Broughton: the leftmost decorated with a shield, the 2 to the right bearing inscriptions, and the far right with damaged alabaster skull and cross bones. The east wall holds a monument to Petri Broughton, 1694, comprising an alabaster surround to a slate tablet surmounted by a decorative shield. A 18th century floor slab lies in the chancel.