Parish Church Of St Mary

The parish church of St Mary, Stilton, has a medieval origin with significant alterations and rebuilding across several centuries. The nave arcades date to the mid-13th century, although the northern arcade is earlier. The chancel was rebuilt in the 15th century, along with the north and south aisles, and parts of the nave arcades. The south porch and north vestry were constructed around 1500. The chancel and vestry were shortened in 1808, and the church underwent alterations in 1857, followed by restorations in 1887-88 and 1908.

The church is built of limestone rubble with reused Barnack and Ketton ashlar dressings of Barnack and Ketton stone, and has roofs of stone slates and lead. The west tower has four external stages and an embattled parapet. It features a belfry window with two cinquefoiled lights set in a four-centred head, a pierced spandrel, and a moulded label. The clerestory has C19 trefoiled windows. The south aisle has two windows, and a restored C14 window to the west. A late C15 doorway on the south side is restored, with a moulded jamb and four-centred head. The south porch, dating from c.1500, has been refaced and restored, featuring an outer archway with a four-centred arch of two moulded orders and attached shafts carrying the inner order. The chancel has two C19 windows.

Inside, the nave arcades consist of three bays. The northern arcade's easternmost semi-circular arch is from two orders, with a semi-circular east respond and first octagonal pier; the second pier is octagonal, all with moulded capitals and bases. The west respond is semi-octagonal with a plain C15 capital and chamfered base. The south arcade has round arches of two chamfered orders in the first two bays, and a two-centred arch of two chamfered orders in the third bay, with round piers and semi-circular responds having moulded capitals and bases. A rood loft doorway has a segmental-pointed arch of three chamfered orders. The west tower arch is two-centred with a single continuous chamfered order, supported by semi-octagonal attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases. The chancel arch is two-centred with two-chamfered orders. A C15 octagonal font has chamfered edges and a plain octagonal shaft and base with broach-stops. There are C15 recesses in the north and south aisles and vestry. A reset C15 piscina is found in the south aisle, with chamfered jambs and a two-centred head.

Additional details relating to brasses, monuments, drawings and records can be found in the cited historical publications.