Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a parish church with a core dating back to the 12th century. The nave was rebuilt in the 14th century, and the chancel was also reconstructed during this period. A south porch and bell turret of uncertain date, possibly from the 15th or 16th century, are also present.

The church is constructed of flint rubble with a red plain tiled roof, featuring coping and a cross to the east. The south bell turret is weatherboarded with a hipped leaded roof, a cross finial, and louvres on each face, with angled buttresses at each corner. A large east window, likely from the 19th or 20th century, features three cusped lights, six quatrefoils above a two-centre arched head, and a small round-headed stone moulding with two quatrefoils. The north wall includes two 14th-century windows, one with a single cinquefoiled light and another with two trefoiled ogee lights and simple tracery under a segmental pointed head. A 14th-century doorway with moulded jambs and a two-centred arch, with a moulded label, is also present, leading to a vertically boarded door. A carved stone set within a round arch, possibly a monument repositioned from elsewhere, is situated between the windows. The west wall contains two 19th or 20th century cusped two-centre arched lights set within a two-centre head, with a 14th-century cill, splays, and rear arch, and a small plaque beneath. The south wall has two ogee two-light windows similar to those on the north side, along with a single-light window. A late 14th-century doorway with a pointed moulded arch and label is situated between these windows, with a vertically boarded and nailed door secured by two wrought iron hinges. A carved stone, recently set, is positioned above the doorway, and another stone forming a cross lies to the left of the south porch. An enriched ogee-headed niche containing a Madonna and Child is located to the right of the south porch.

The timber-framed and plastered south porch has a red plain tiled roof with a cross at its apex, featuring chamfered wall plates and a cambered lintel. The south doorway mirrors the north doorway. The interior bell turret is supported by two heavily braced portal frames and incorporates stop-chamfered spine beams with run-out stops. The roof is ceiled, showing five cants, with moulded wall plates and chamfered timber above ashlar pieces. The floor is brick. A 12th century stone tub font sits on a square base with angle bosses. A fragment of late 14th-century foliated glass is incorporated into the south-east window. 19th century communion rails are also present. Stained glass is found in the east and west windows. A 14th-century piscina features a square head with a circular foiled drain. A plain, iron-bound chest with a lock and hasps is also within the church. Several floor slabs are inscribed with dates, including memorials to Hannah and Timothy Felton (1683, 1964), Timothy and Susannah Felton, and their daughter Easter Firmin (1665, 1683, 1713). Wall plaques commemorate Rev C Fisher (1839), Francis Brise (1855), and John Fisher, a student of East India College, Haileybury, and his wife Eliza (1829). A 19th or 20th century panelled pulpit is also present, along with a wall plaque for John Fisher.