Parish Church Of St Mary

The parish church of St Mary is a 13th-century chancel and nave, with a circa 1300 bell-turret. It was restored in the late 19th century, and a north vestry and south porch were added at that time. The church is constructed of flint rubble, externally rendered with cement and internally plastered, with clunch dressings that are largely restored. The roofs are tiled, the bell-turret is weatherboarded, and the spire is shingled. The east wall of the chancel has three 19th-century lancet windows. The north wall features three 13th-century lancet windows, also largely restored externally. The south wall has a similar arrangement of three lancet windows; a doorway is situated between the two western windows, with a 19th-century external surround but a 13th-century segmental rear arch and splayed reveals. Brick angle buttresses are found at the east end, dating to the early 20th century. A more widely splayed lancet window is set into the north wall of the nave, with a 19th-century surround; to the west is a 19th-century doorway retaining a segmental rear-arch from the 13th century. The south wall also features three lancet windows, matching those on the north wall, with another 13th-century segmental rear arch and splayed reveals on the doorway between the two western windows. A lancet window, similar to the others, is in the west wall. The chancel roof has wall plates and bowtell in great casement mouldings; a short section at the west end of each is missing, indicating the former presence of a roof loft. The roof structure is framed with seven cants, primarily 19th-century, but with one complete rafter couple at the east end and reused collar braces on 19th-century rafters. Two plain and waney tiebeams are present, inserted into the structure. The chancel arch is timber and 2-centred, dating from the 19th century. The nave roof has plain wall plates and two tiebeams; the east beam is plain and wavy, the west is moulded, from the 15th century. The nave roof is also a 7-cant structure, dating from the 19th century. The bell-turret, situated at the west end of the nave, is supported by four posts, with curved braces to the east tiebeam, but the west tiebeam is missing. It dates to around 1300. The date of the spire is unknown, though a spire was mentioned in 1768. The church houses three bells, all reportedly cast by John Tonne in the early 16th century, bearing inscriptions including "De celis missi nomen habeo gabrielis," "Virginis atq matri resonet campana marie," and "Hec fratris simonis andree nomen habqto." A 13th-century stone coffin-lid is set into the floor of the nave near the southeast angle, bearing a worn raised cross. A floor-slab marks the burial of William Cowland, dating to 1687. A piscina is located in the southeast corner of the chancel, featuring a chamfered 2-centred head and two round drains, from the 13th century. Three plain benches are from the 16th century, while five others have been rebuilt with later timber. The pulpit, font, and remaining benches are 19th-century. The south door-leaf is 19th century but incorporates an older stock-lock, latch and nails.