Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary

A parish church of mixed medieval periods, with the nave possibly dating to the 14th century and the north aisle, chapel, west tower and nave windows all of early to mid-15th century date. The south porch is late 15th century. The chancel was rebuilt in 1864 by Reverend G.R. Tuck, and the church underwent restoration between 1913 and 1920 by G. Lucas. The building is constructed of flint rubble with split flint to the chancel and stone dressings throughout. The nave has a lead roof, while the chancel and south porch are slate roofed.

The nave comprises three bays with two large three-light windows on the south wall under four-centred arches, flanking the south porch. The left window has a cinquefoiled head. A two-light low side window with a square head appears to the right. The south wall of the chancel features a single three-light window and pointed arch entrance, both with foliate stops to the labels. The east window, which has five lights with tracery and mask stops, is particularly fine. Two-stage angle buttresses articulate the chancel, which has a distinctly steeper pitch to its roof.

The continuous five-bay north aisle and chapel is lined with large four-centred arched three-light windows with cinquefoiled heads. A four-centred arched entrance under a square head is located in the second bay from the right, beneath a smaller window. End diagonal buttresses with straight buttresses separate the bays. The east chapel and west aisle windows contain three lights with rectilinear tracery under four-centred arches. Corner gargoyles appear at cornice level and in the gable above the east chapel window. An embattled parapet survives only on the west wall of the north aisle.

The west tower comprises three stages with diagonal two-stage buttresses. The lower stage contains a two-light window with trefoiled lights and a quatrefoil above. A narrow window appears in the second stage on the south side. The bell chamber has four two-light windows with damaged stone surrounds.

The outer entrance to the south porch features shafted jambs with moulded capitals and bases to an arched inner order set within an outer order with a moulded square head and pierced spandrels. Three-light windows occupy the east and west walls. The inner entrance has a two-centred arch with moulded chamfered reveals and a label. The original porch roof employs cambered beams. A stoup remains in the northeast corner.

Interior features include a two-centred tower arch of three orders with capitals and bases to semi-octagonal responds. A door to the bell chamber stairs is set in the southwest corner of the tower. The 15th century nave roof has hollow chamfered tie beams. A rood stair occupies the northeast angle of the nave with openings at ground and loft levels. The chancel arch, added in 1864, is heavily moulded with stiff leaf capitals. The chancel roof is ceiled and braced onto carved corbels. A mid-15th century four-centred arch connects the chancel to the north chapel, displaying two wave moulded orders with the inner resting on shafts with moulded bases and bell capitals. A stone-carved angel corbel is positioned in the northeast corner of the chapel.

Remains of a 15th century piscina on a semi-octagonal moulded pedestal stand in the northwest corner of the chapel. The north arcade between the nave and aisle features pointed arches of two moulded orders similar to the chapel arch. Each pier has four attached semi-circular shafts, larger in the longitudinal direction, with moulded capitals and bases. The north aisle roof preserves original moulded principals alternately braced onto wall corbels and carrying four timber-carved angels. Foliate bosses ornament the intersections of purlins and principals. Most of the nave and aisle seating consists of 15th century benches.

A 12th century Purbeck marble octagonal font bowl features shallow pointed arches. A 15th century panelled screen separates the north chapel from the north aisle, with traceried and crocketed panels and a four-centred crocketed head over the door.

The altar tomb of John Prysot stands beneath the east window on the north wall. It features panels of figures in crocketed ogee canopies alternating with shields bearing the arms of Piggot and Prysot, recessed in cinquefoil arches. The left return displays two panels and one niche figure, a shield, and a Pelican in her Piety, with the slab showing traces of indentation. One bay to the west stands a tomb with a plain 20th century base and slab bearing indents for two child figures, shields, and a Trinity. A slab tomb in the north chapel floor commemorates Thomas Bowles, died 1740. Another slab tomb in the nave floor marks Richard Blow, died 1698.

The window above John Prysot's tomb contains glass of circa 1450 featuring the arms of Piggot and Prysot flanking saints including Saint Catherine. The east window contains glass of late 19th century date by Messrs. Clayton and Bell.