Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Grade II* listed building located in North Mymms. It primarily dates from the 14th century, with the upper parts of the west tower added in the mid-15th century. A south porch and vestry were added around 1860 during a restoration of the church. The structure features rubble and flint walls with stone dressings and machine tile roofs. The west tower is supported by diagonal buttresses and includes a 14th-century arched door with two orders, adorned with foliage capitals and squares. Above this door is a three-light window from the same period, while the windows in the third and fourth stages are of one and two lights, dating from around 1440-1450. The north aisle has three-light windows in the Decorated style, and a north chapel was added between 1328 and 1329. A northern extension, added around 1970, connects to the north aisle. The chancel walls and east window have been restored. Inside, the nave features three arcade arches on octagonal piers and a triple chamfered chancel arch with remnants of intended crossing tower and transept arches. Notable monuments include a brass of a priest from around 1360 on the north chancel wall, likely Flemish, and three brasses from the 15th and 16th centuries on the south wall. A large standing monument on the north side of the chancel, next to the altar, commemorates John Lord Somers (died 1716) and was created by P Scheemakers; it features a marble door leading to the vestry and a life-size figure of Justice against a white obelisk. The north nave aisle contains 18th-century wall monuments, including a corner monument to George Jarvis (died 1716) with a demi figure in a niche tabernacle and a panel for Lydia Mews (died 1751) with fluted pilasters. There is also a 16th-century chest tomb with a figure on the top panel in inlaid lead outline, and a 1795 monument to J Hickson by J Bacon. The church features an oak hexagonal pulpit from the 16th century with shallow carved panels.