Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary in Burnham Westgate is a parish church largely dating to the 14th century, with a significant restoration in 1872 which heavily influences its exterior appearance. The church is constructed of flint with stone dressings, featuring lead roofs and a slated chancel, with a pantiled porch.

The church comprises a west tower, four-bay north and south aisles, a south porch, a three-bay chancel, and a two-bay north chapel. The west tower is of 14th-century origin, with four roughly-carved “Y” tracery belfry windows. Earlier work is visible on the south face, including a blocked lower window and a blocked lancet. The corners are defined by quoins, with massive stepped brick buttresses dating to the 18th century at the south-west and south-east angles. A 19th-century three-light window is situated on the west side, and a set-off buttress is present at the north-east angle. The battlements are particularly noteworthy, displaying fine tracery and heraldic carvings, likely dating to around 1500. These feature the arms of William Lexham, Lord of the Manor (died 1500), and Lady Calthorpe (died 1511), who may have been the principal donors.

The north side of the exterior features a series of carved figures including a woman in adoration (possibly the Blessed Virgin), a representation of God in Glory, a Portcullis shield, Death, a King, a shield with the letter "M" (Maria), depictions of Adam and Eve, a shield with three ciboria, an executioner with a severed head, St. John the Baptist, and others. The south side includes carvings of the Crucifixion, a figure possibly representing St. Francis showing the stigmata, a shield with a griffin, an abbess and abbot with croziers, several “M” shields, various saints, a shield with a lion, and depictions of SS Peter and Andrew. The west side continues with carvings including an attendant holding St. John the Baptist’s head, Herod, Herodias, and her dancing daughter, SS Peter and Andrew, St. John the Evangelist, St. James, a shield with IHS, knights, St. Thomas a Becket saying Mass, and depictions of the Blessed Virgin and Christ Child, St. Joseph (the Flight into Egypt), a shield with a rose, the Salutation of St. Elizabeth, another “M” shield, the Confession of St. Thomas, the Risen Christ, a fleur-de-lys shield, and the Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin. The nave and aisle windows have 19th-century tracery.

The 15th-century south porch is two stories high, with set-off angle buttresses. The arch is adorned with hood moulds, and the north and south windows incorporate blocked first-floor Perpendicular windows with inserted tracery panels and a built-in two-light window with ogee tracery. The clere-story on the south side has four two-light Perpendicular windows with brick stitching to the heads. The north clerestory has four windows alternating quatrefoils and trefoils within circles. The three-bay chancel has 19th-century tracery, with the exception of a blocked rectangular squint opening connecting to the south aisle.

The interior features three-bay north and south arcades with octagonal piers and double hollow-chamfered arches. The tower and chancel arches date to the 14th century. An 18th-century rococo wall tablet has been inserted into the north clerestory, and the roofs are of 19th-century origin. A two-bay addition to the north chancel dates to the 19th century. A south aisle window was constructed in 1869 by Powell. A brass dating to 1523 is located in the chancel. Within the tower, a detached 14th-century stone monument featuring an effigy, originally located in the north aisle, was removed in 1823. The church is designated as Grade I primarily for the sculpture on the tower battlements.