Church Of St Mary The Virgin

NEWPORT CHURCH STREET 1. 5222 Church of St Mary the Virgin TL 5234 38/571 21.2.67

I GV

1. Large cruciform flint church with stone dressings. The tall west tower of 1858 by G. E. Prichett has set back buttresses, castellated parapet and octagonal castellated corner turrets. The nave, chancel and south porch also have castellated parapets. The walls of the chancel and the north and south transepts were built 1220-40. The south aisle was added in the early C14 and the north aisle in 1390. The west tower rebuilt in 1858, was of the late C15. The 2 storeyed south porch was built in the C15. In the C16 clerestoreys were added to the nave and chancel. The church was restored in the C19 and the chancel in 1911. The continuous development of the church from the C13 to the C19 is reflected in its architectural features and is interesting. The interior has some fine fittings including a fine C13 carved altar chest with oil paintings on the underside of the lid which are said to be the earliest oil paintings on wood known to English art. The font is early C13, with gabled trefoil arches. The font cover is C15. The screen is C15 and there is an oak swivel top lectern with an octagonal stem, ornamented with tracery panels. The north trancept window has some C14 glass. There are C16 and C17 brasses. The church is situated at about the centre of the mainly linear village and forms the focal point of an important group of buildings. Graded for its architectural, historical and topographical value. (RCHM 1).

Listing NGR: TL5207134107