Church Of St Mary

SJ 30 SE PONTESBURY C.P. HABBERLEY

7/185 Church of St Mary - 13.6.58 GV II

Parochial chapel, now parish church. C12 fabric, restored and partly re- built c.1864. Uncoursed limestone and quartzite rubble with limestone and sandstone ashlar dressings, machine tile roof. Nave and chancel in one with bellcote at west end and lean-to vestry (former north chancel chapel) at north-east corner. One 3-light late C16 mullion window to south wall of chancel; remainder alI c.1864, paired cusped lancets with quatrefoils above to east of north and south doorways and one single light to west on north, east and west windows of 3 stepped lights also with cusped heads; C12 south doorway with plain recessed arch and tympanum, north doorway similar but narrower, both restored; Gothic-style bellcote at west end has 2 cusped lancet openings; prominent stepped buttresses at south-east and south-west corners probably C17 (date 1648 on latter). Interior: late C19 arch-braced roof in 5 bays; most of other fittings and furnishings also date to 1864 restoration, although some late C17 panelling was re-used in nave at this time, stained glass in east and west windows of 1868 and 1883 respectively; C12 font with incised rim moulding is said to have been re-cut in 1766 and placed on its present pedestal in 1864; a board commemorating benefactions to the poor of the parish hangs in the vestry, no monuments of note. Formerly a chapelry of Worthen, Habberley probably became an independent parish during C12. V.C.H. VIII (1968), Pp.243-44; Cranage, Churches of Shropshire, Part 6 (1903), Pp.528-9.

Listing NGR: SJ3987403576