Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary, Orston

This is a parish church of major architectural importance, with elements spanning from the 13th century through to the 18th century, and significant Victorian restoration work.

The church is constructed of coursed and squared rubble with dressed stone and ashlar dressings. It comprises a west tower, nave with north and south aisles, chancel, and south porch, all covered with plain tile gabled and lead lean-to roofs.

The west tower was built in 1766. It has a chamfered plinth and projecting quoins. All openings feature round heads with projecting architraves, imposts and keystones. On the north and south sides, each has a single window with a keystoned round window above it. The south side displays a clock above its round window. The west side has a panelled door, to its right marked with an inscription "TL TB". Above this is a datestone inscribed "Jno Kettleborrow / Thos Taylor / Churchwardens 1766." Above again, on each side, are bell openings. A late 20th-century lean-to outbuilding adjoins the return angle to the north. The tower chamber contains an 18th-century cleft ladder, and a keystoned round-headed doorway with a beaded plank door provides access.

The nave clerestory dates to the 15th century and comprises 3 bays with coved eaves and a crenellated parapet. The north side has a late 20th-century side wall stack and 3 triple mullioned leaded casements with square heads. The south side has 3 similar windows, since restored. The nave has two arcades. The north arcade dates to the early 13th century with 3 bays, containing 2 round piers and responds with octagonal plinths, moulded round bases and octagonal capitals. The arches are keeled roll moulded and round, with archivolt, hood mould and mask stops. The south arcade is of later 13th-century date, featuring a round pier and an octagonal pier with round responds, square plinths, moulded round bases and capitals. The octagonal pier has an octagonal base. Arches are chamfered and rebated with hood moulds. The nave has a 15th-century roof with cambered tie beams, carved bosses, moulded ridge and purlins, supported by short wooden wall shafts with carved feet on moulded corbels carrying straight struts.

The north aisle is 14th-century with 3 bays. It has a chamfered plinth, moulded sill band, coved eaves and coped gables, one bearing a cross. The north side is buttressed with 2 buttresses and 2 pairs of corner buttresses with 2 setoffs. To the east are 2 triple lancets with unusual Decorated tracery (restored) with hood moulds and mask stops. The east and west ends each have a triple lancet of early 14th-century date with unusual geometrical tracery, hood mould and mask stops. The interior has a moulded sill band and leaded windows with coved reveals. The aisle roof is elaborate 14th-century work with, to the west, 2 pairs of moulded arch braces with bosses, wall shafts and scissor bracing in spandrels. The east end has chamfered span beams, a purlin with nailhead, and 3 pairs of wall shafts with struts.

The south aisle is 15th-century with 3 bays. It has a chamfered and moulded plinth, sill band, coved eaves, moulded coped gables and crenellated parapet. It is buttressed with 2 pairs of corner buttresses and 2 intermediate buttresses with 2 setoffs. A buttress to the east bears an incised sundial. To the right of the south porch are 2 triple lancets with unusual Decorated tracery (restored) with hood moulds and mask stops. The east end has a much restored late 15th-century triple lancet with cusped round heads and panel tracery. The west end has a similar triple lancet with cusped ogee heads and transomed panel tracery, both with hood moulds and mask stops. The interior has a moulded sill band and windows with coved reveals. A 19th-century lean-to roof with arch braces featuring pierced spandrels covers this aisle.

The chancel is 13th-century with 4 bays. It has a chamfered and moulded plinth, sill band, and a coped gable with a cross. The north side contains 3 splayed 13th-century lancets. The east end has a pair of flanking corner buttresses with 2 setoffs and 3 grouped chamfered lancets. The south side has, to the west, a 13th-century style double lancet and to its right a 19th-century doorway in matching style. Further right are 3 13th-century lancets similar to those on the north side. All openings have hood moulds. The chancel arch is 13th-century, round-headed, chamfered and rebated, with uncarved imposts. The interior of the chancel has, to the east of the south side, a rebated 13th-century aumbry. The roof is 19th-century matchboarded with scissor bracing and incorporates 2 15th-century chamfered span beams.

The south porch is late 19th-century in 13th-century style. It has a pair of diagonal buttresses and a coped gable with kneelers and a cross. The moulded doorway has a hood mould and stops and is flanked by single gabled-head shoe scrapers. Each side has a mullioned 2-light leaded casement. The interior contains 2 wooden benches and a principal rafter roof with collars. The inner south door is late 13th-century with double cove moulding and rebate, hood mould and mask stops, flanked by a pair of late 19th-century doors.

Notable interior features include a 13th-century font with a square plinth, moulded octagonal base and stem, and an octagonal bowl with round-headed arcaded panels containing angels' heads, a rose, a vase of tulips, and an inscription "Given by Mrs. Constantia Kerchevall Feb:7 1662", with a 19th-century cover. A large brass eagle lectern, pierced traceried panelled oak pulpit, moulded panelled oak choir stalls and desks, all 19th-century, are present. The altar rail is 19th-century with moulded panelling and ivy leaf iron brackets with linked chairs. Four late 18th-century benches with arm rests and flat round finials, and mid 20th-century panelled benches are in the church. A fragment of 15th-century traceried oak panel, a 17th-century plank chest, an 18th-century panelled chest, and a military drum dating to around 1815 are retained. Six late 19th-century wrought iron pendant lamps and 2 late 19th-century pendant oil lamps provide lighting.

Monuments include a life-size 14th-century female effigy, Royal Arms of George III dated 1786, 2 painted commandment boards and 2 similar boards with the Lord's Prayer and Creed (all late 18th-century), a slate tablet to Rev. J. Fell dated 1804 signed "Wood", an alabaster war memorial tablet with military badges dating to around 1919, and a brass referring to the War Memorial clock of 1918. A small incised stone tablet is present. In the porch, a scrolled-head tablet with an angel commemorates Eleanor Kirchevall, dated 1695, and a slate tablet to John Kerchevall is dated 1721.

The chancel also contains a restored 13th-century moulded crocketed aumbry with a corbelled piscina to the east of the south side.

The church underwent restoration in 1889, with the nave and north aisle further restored in 1914.