Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary

This is a parish church of Norman origin, built as a cruciform structure with the chancel demolished in 1541. The building represents multiple phases of construction spanning from the 11th century through the 15th century. The central tower has early 11th century lower stages with early 13th century upper stages. The south transept dates from the 1290s, the north transept from the mid 14th century, and the nave and aisles probably from the mid 14th century. The north porch is late 14th century but was completed in the 15th century.

The exterior is constructed of flint with ashlar dressings. The west front features an arched doorway with hollow, roll and keel mouldings below a string course, topped by a 5-light window formed of two identical intersecting 3-light shapes with petal tracery and moulded jambs and voussoirs. Two stepped buttresses and angle buttresses define the aisles, which have one 2-light ogeed window with two reticulations within a larger unit. The south aisle has a plinth with knapped flint panels. Buttresses divide each aisle into 5 bays, each containing a 3-light petal tracery window above a string course. A blocked second window bay provides access to a single-storey flint vestry built in 1950. The aisle and clerestory are papered with a string course, and a further string course at the springing of window heads rises to form hoods. The clerestory has 4 windows, each 3-light with super mullions below hood moulds.

The south transept has a 3-light mouchette window, diagonal buttresses and a shouldered parapet. To the east, the roof line of the south chancel aisle remains. This wall has been much rebuilt and contains a 16th century 4-light Perpendicular window. A large diagonal buttress to the south-east of the tower dates from the 16th century. A blocked semi-circular roll-moulded arch to the tower has a 19th century 3-light petal window above it. Remains of crossing piers with imposts and 11th century water-leaf capitals are visible to north and south, with three 19th century round-headed lights above. A double string course separates the 13th century belfry from the earlier courses. The belfry windows are 2-light with punched quatrefoil in the head and plate tracery, with a crenellated parapet above.

The north aisle east end has a flint plinth on a base course with knapped panels and a string course below a 3-light petal window that has been renewed. The hood becomes a string course, and the parapet has been rebuilt in brick. Diagonal north buttresses support the structure. A high flint base course continues through the transept and north nave aisle as the south aisle. The transept contains a 3-light petal window with a continuous hood and shouldered parapet matching the south transept. The north aisle has three 3-light petal windows with similar detailing.

In the second bay is a two-storey porch of knapped flint with diagonal buttresses featuring two crenellated set-offs and two string courses. The entrance arch has two orders of double wave mouldings separated by a fleuron frieze. The capitals are carved with heads, with hoods above on head stops in squared panels. Flushwork panels above alternate with angels and heraldic shields. A 2-light panel tracery window lights the parvise. There is one ogee statuary niche to the left, right and above. The parapet is plain and gabled. An external stair to the west has brick quoins and an external door. The inner north door has mid 14th century mouldings. The porch interior has a tierceron star vault with bosses.

The interior features a 5-bay arcade with elongated north-south lozenge piers with rolls and fillets on high polygonal bases and moulded capitals below arches of two sunk waves. Wall arches to the aisles rest on engaged columns with bases and capitals. Clerestory windows are set in the spandrels of arcade arches. The nave roof is late 15th century, with a wall plate decorated with diamond studs and wall posts dropping to carved corbels supporting tie beams on arched braces with traceried spandrels. The ridge piece, purlins and common rafters are all moulded. The aisle roofs are similar but simpler. The 11th century crossing piers and arches remain intact; those to the east are incorporated in a 16th century wall with semi-circular arches on shafted piers with simple waterleaf capitals below stylised scallop forms.

A rood screen dating from circa 1475 spans 10 bays on each side of a central opening, extending across the nave and aisles. The aisle openings are arched, with the dado panelled with blind ogee lights. The main lower arches are sub-cusped below coving to the west, with moulded and painted muntins. The coving features a tierceron net vault behind arched drop pendants, with a similar section of coving surviving to the east. A plain cornice in the form of a parapet below the rood beam is painted with shields of English dioceses, added in 1610. Much 15th century painting survives on the screen, both figural and decorative.

An early 18th century pulpit comprises a hexagonal drum with raised and fielded panels to each facet, all with foliate borders. One or two putti heads are carved below the moulded top rail, also in a foliate surround. The contemporary moulded stem and plinth remain. Stairs with iron twist balusters, a moulded hand rail and carved tread ends lead up to the pulpit. An eagle lectern and steps of cast iron dating from 1816 are notable features. The steps have handrails resting on snakes and terminating in palm leaves.

A mural painting in oil dating from circa 1500 covers the area above the chancel arch. The Annunciation is depicted above a string course, with a horizontal bar of the Cross with foliate ends surrounded by figures of Moses, David, Jeremiah, angels and others. The composition is interrupted by two Norman windows opening into the tower, each with engaged columns below round arches decorated with chevron and dog tooth moulding. A fragment of painting of St Christopher dating from circa 1500 survives over the south door. An oak door leading to stairs up to the parvise is early 15th century, featuring a depressed segmental arch with tracery carving and many orders of mouldings. Two 15th century misericords are installed in south aisle stalls. Some 14th century stained glass remains in the west window.