Church Of St Mary The Virgin

ARKESDEN CHURCH GREEN 1. 5222 Church of St Mary the Virgin TL 4834 36/1 21.2.67

II*

1. A flint rubble church with a C13 nave and chancel but very much restored in 1855. The west tower, roofs, clerestorey and chancel arch belong to the restoration. When the C15 west tower was rebuilt in 1855 there was discovered the remains of an earlier norman round tower. The nave arcades are of the C13, the north arcade has circular piers and the south has octagonal. The chancel has 2 pairs of lancet windows in the north and south walls. The south porch is C15. The interior has some important monuments including a C15 effigy to a priest, with a recumbent figure bisected by 2 arches situated in the north wall of the chancel, an elaborate C15 canopied wall monument to Richard Cutte (d 1592) and his wife with recumbent figures in the south aisle, and, in the west tower, a C17 marble wall monument carved with sculls and branches and with 2 good busts of John Withers (d 1692) and his wife. Thought to be by Roubilliac, but recently attributed to Edward Pierce by Nickolaus Pevsner. There is also a military brass to Richard Fox (1439). The church is situated on rising ground above the village and it forms a prominent feature. Graded for its architectural, historical and topographical value. (RCHM 1).

Listing NGR: TL4822534599