Church of St Mary

Church of St Mary, Elmley Castle

This is a medieval church of outstanding architectural and artistic significance, with origins dating back to the 11th century and development continuing into the 17th century. The building's chronology is complex. Some herringbone masonry in the north and south walls of the chancel suggests origins before 1100, and Pevsner argues that the masonry of the south arcade may be Saxon in date. The 13th century saw the construction of the tower base, south aisle, and the first phase of the north transept around the mid-14th century. The 15th century brought the north aisle, the upper stage of the tower, the west window, and the west doorway of the tower. The north transept was heightened and re-windowed in the 16th century, with documented work continuing into the 17th century. The chancel was restored in 1862, and in 1878 all internal plaster was removed as the nave roof was replaced and the north wall rebuilt.

The structure is constructed mostly of stone rubble, with snecked masonry to the south aisle and ashlar masonry to the upper stage of the tower. The roofs are tiled over the nave, chancel, and north aisle, with a lead roof to the south aisle. The plan comprises a nave, chancel, north and south aisles, a north transept, and a west tower.

The exterior features embattled parapets to the north aisle, porch, and transept. The north side displays square-headed Perpendicular-style windows. A large five-light window in the east side of the transept is blocked to accommodate a monument inside. The chancel has two-light Decorated windows on the north side and a blocked northeast doorway, with a 19th-century Decorated-style east window. The south side shows a mixture of square-headed and arched traceried windows; a date of 1629 is noted on the south wall. The substantial, low three-stage tower has an embattled parapet, a blocked lancet on the south wall, and two-light belfry openings. The 16th-century porch features a good early 17th-century external door.

Inside, a 19th-century chancel arch rests on carved corbels. The chancel has an elliptical 19th-century boarded roof with a brattished wall plate, divided into panels by moulded ribs. The south arcade presents a puzzle: it includes an octagonal 14th-century pier, but the remaining arches die into square-section piers. Pevsner suggests these square piers may represent the remains of the north wall of an aisleless church, suggesting Saxon proportions with a long nave and chancel, or alternatively they may relate to what appears to have been a 17th-century building phase on the south side. The 15th-century north arcade features octagonal piers with follow-chamfered capitals. A 19th-century common rafter nave roof with tie beams and iron ties extends from ridge to tie beam. Lean-to aisle roofs rest on moulded corbels, and the tower ceiling comprises moulded 15th-century beams.

The interior contains several outstanding features. The two-phase font consists of a remarkable 12th or 13th-century cylindrical stem with integral serpentine beasts sculpted around its base, one with a beakhead, surmounted by an octagonal Perpendicular bowl carved with panels of religious and secular symbols. An outstanding set of late 15th or early 16th-century benches features moulded cornices to the backs and the tops of the ends, which remain uncarved. The seats have been widened, but otherwise many benches are completely intact. Integral panelling on the south wall has disappeared, though the rail to which it was attached survives.

The church contains two remarkable monuments described by Pevsner as amongst the best of their dates in the county. In the north transept are three alabaster effigies of members of the Savage family, dating to 1616, 1631, and 1674, positioned on a panelled chest with supporters at their feet and four kneeling figures. The figures remain in unusually good condition with gilded detail on the costumes. The helmet and unicorn's head used at the funeral of Sir Giles (d.1631) are attached to the wall above. On the east wall of the transept is a major wall monument to the first Earl of Coventry (d.1699), signed by William Standon. It was originally intended for the church at Croome d'Abitot but was erected here following a family dispute. It is of high quality, featuring a white marble figure of the earl reclining on a deep chest, a lengthy inscription, and an arch crowned with armorial bearings. Large sub-figures flank the chest and armorial bearings. Other fittings include a 19th-century polygonal timber pulpit with delicate blind traceried sides.

Ancient stained glass fragments survive in the south transept and chancel, the latter containing late medieval or 16th-century Royal Arms. The east window dates from 1878 and is presumed by Pevsner to be by Powell.

This is a medieval church of exceptional interest: it contains probably pre-1100 fabric; a remarkable two-phase medieval font; a very complete set of late medieval benches; and two of the finest 17th and 18th-century monuments in the county.