Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary, located on Lower Street in Gissing, dates from probably the late 11th century. It is constructed of flint with stone dressings and features tiled roofs. The round west tower, likely from the late 11th century, includes Norman two-light round-headed bell-openings with a dividing shaft and scallop capital, circular windows (probably not Saxon), and a small two-light round-headed west window with an incised zigzag surround. The tall tower arch has zigzag carving in the arch and plain inposts. The nave, also probably from the late 11th century, features a Norman south doorway with zigzag in the arch and one order of shafts with scallop capitals, as well as one Decorated nave window. The chancel has north and south chapels from the early 13th century, which include Y-tracery windows, while the remaining windows are in the Perpendicular style.

There is a two-storeyed north porch from the 15th century, which has flushwork panelling, diagonal buttresses, fleurons in the arch, and flanking niches. Inside, the church has a 15th-century double-hammerbeam nave roof. There are two single-chamfered arches between the chancel and south chapel with an octagonal pier; the north chapel probably originally had a similar arch but now has a single arch. The north chapel roof is also from the 15th century. Some bench ends date from the 15th century, while the remainder are from the 19th century. The church features a 15th-century octagonal font and an early 17th-century screen to the north chapel. Notable monuments include tablets to the Kemp family from 1614, 1710, 1734, and 1815.