Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary

Parish church with a core of 12th-century origin, substantially rebuilt and extended over later centuries. The building comprises a chancel and nave probably of 14th-century date, a 14th-century west tower and south porch, and a north aisle added around 1858. The church underwent 19th-century restorations.

Construction is in random flint with ashlar and stone dressings. The west tower displays flint and stone panels to its plinth and parapet. Red plain tiled roofs cover the building.

The chancel retains mostly 14th-century features. A small restored round-headed window to the north wall shows 12th-century rear splays. The east wall carries a stone parapet verge and cross, with an east window of three cinquefoiled ogee lights under tracery, set within a chamfered two-centred arch topped by a moulded label with foliate stops. A small round-headed light pierces the gable apex. The south wall has central and western buttresses. The eastern window (restored) contains two lancets with pointed quatrefoil over; a central restored lancet; and a western 19th-century trefoiled light with two-centred head and moulded label with foliate stops.

The nave's south wall is buttressed at its angles and topped by a stone cross. The eastern window has two trefoiled ogee lights with quatrefoil over, pointed segmental head and label. The central window holds two trefoiled lights with trefoil over, two-centred head and label with headstops.

The south porch features stone coping to its gable with a cross finial. Below the gable apex sits a niche with ogee head and flat canopy, containing a 19th or 20th-century female figure. The outer arch is chamfered two-centred with a label displaying king and queen head stops. A modern Norman-style south doorway incorporates some original carved stones into its round head; similar stonework fragments appear on the porch window cill. Side windows are single cinquefoiled lights with two-centred heads. Internally, the porch has a side purlin ridge board roof with a small crown post. A scratch date "IT 1736" appears on the west jamb of the outer archway.

The 19th-century north aisle contains three windows, each with two trefoiled lights, trefoils over, and moulded labels with headstops. The 19th-century north chapel has an east rose window with star tracery and central cusped roundel, a Caernarvon-headed east doorway with vertically boarded door and ornate hinges, and a north window of two plate-lancets with roundel over.

The west tower rises in three stages with flint and stone panel crenellations and plinth. Western angle buttresses are present. Bands run below the crenellations and bell chamber. The bell chamber has windows on each face with two cinquefoiled lights, quatrefoil over, two-centred head and label. The second stage carries small trefoiled lights with square heads on north and south faces. An angled stair turret projects from the east of the south face, lit by one slit light and one quatrefoil light. The west window displays three trefoiled ogee lights under vertical tracery, set in a four-centred head.

Interior – Chancel: A boarded and ribbed roof of five cants has moulded wall plate. The floor is tesselated with tesserae that appear to be Roman. Two floor slabs commemorate Tollemache son of Tollemache Duke Esq (1713) and Tollemache Duke (1690). A mosaic reredos displays a central cross flanked by Alpha and Omega symbols. 19th-century stained glass fills the windows. A two-centred arched doorway leads to the north vestry. 19th-century choir stalls occupy the space. Wooden altar rails comprise seven two-light cinquefoiled ogee arches with moulded rail. There is no chancel arch; instead a heavy timber tie or rood beam spans the opening.

Interior – Nave: A single hammer beam roof has moulded wall plates, purlins, braces to collars and king posts, and carved spandrels. A 19th-century coloured tiled floor is present. Two floor slabs commemorate Coyte and Beeston (1732 and 1735) and an illegible 1722 date. 19th-century stained glass windows light the space. A wooden octagonal pulpit has crocketed pinnacles to angle buttresses, moulded parapet, cinquefoiled panels, and an octagonal stem. A south wall memorial in coloured marble commemorates the Honourable Stanhope Tollemache, son of the 1st Baron Tollemache (1855–1934). It features shafts with Corinthian capitals supporting a moulded pediment, a central shield of arms, pendant grapes and a lion mask. A probably 15th-century octagonal font is panelled with carvings of the virgin and child, angels with shields, two flowers and interlocked eternity rings. The octagonal stem is surrounded by symbols of the four Evangelists at angles alternating with buttresses having moulded capitals and bases. A square base rests on an old slab, probably 12th or 13th-century, which shows the outline of a former stem. A simple chamfered two-centred tower arch has fragments of medieval painting on its jambs. A stop-chamfered two-centred stair turret arch opens to a nailed board and muntin door with edge muntins. The north arcade contains three bays with octagonal columns having moulded capitals and bases, and chamfered two-centred arches of two orders. The north aisle roof is a side purlin ridge board type with three bays, stone corbels, timber wall plates, and arched braces to principal rafters and collars. A triptych with painted Exodus and Lords Prayer boards in carved wooden frames hangs on the west wall. A hatchment sits above a two-centred arch on the east wall. The north vestry has a boarded and ribbed five-cant roof. One bench features poppyheads and carved animals on its arms.