Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church largely dating from the 16th century, with a core of 12th-century fabric and subsequent additions. It comprises a nave, chancel, west tower, and south porch. The main construction is of flint rubble, rendered except for the tower, which incorporates substantial reused moulded stone. Freestone dressings are present, and the roof is covered in plain tiles.

A distinctive 12th-century slit window is found in the north nave wall, featuring unusual interlace carving around the head. A similar, but plain, window is in the south wall. Reused freestone in the tower stair turret is also said to contain 12th-century carving. The east end of the church suffered severe bomb damage in 1940, and the present window is likely a repaired 19th-century replacement, itself a remodelling of a mediaeval window that existed in its form around 1850. It is executed in the late 13th-century style, with nook shafts both inside and out, and flanking image niches on the inner wall face. A blocked moulded north doorway and a two-light window in the south chancel date to around 1400.

Significant alterations occurred in the 16th century, involving the shortening of the west end of the nave and the erection of a tower with embattled parapets displaying a shield at the centre. The belfry openings have damaged tracery. Several two-light windows are found in the nave and chancel. The inner south doorway displays Tudor flower motifs and retains an original plank floor. The roof is structured over seven uninterrupted bays, canted and plastered, with moulded knee-braced tie-beams and cornice. A stud-and-plaster partition marks the former rood position, and remnants of the doorway and stairs leading to the rood loft remain.

The south porch was added around 1630 in red brickwork, featuring a semi-circular parapet gable and a two-centred arched doorway (rebuilt in the 20th century but originally stuccoed). The doorway is labelled and bears a limestone shield displaying the arms of Wingfield impaling Poley, referencing the porch’s connection to Watering Farmhouse, believed to have been occupied by Thomas Wingfield, who died in 1632. Twin windows are visible in the side walls, along with oak benches.

A fine early 15th-century limestone font features an octagonal bowl depicting St. Catherine, emblems of the Evangelists, and angels, with buttresses and lions sejant at each corner. The early 17th-century octagonal pulpit has arcading and strapwork decoration, standing on a 19th-century limestone base; the original sounding board was documented in 1909. 19th-century choirstalls incorporate eight fine bench ends dating back to around 1500, with poppyheads and animal and angel figures on the buttresses.

Two alabaster wall monuments are present; one to Samuel Sayer (died 1625) and his wife Thomasine (died 1647) with busts and an achievement, both monuments are severely damaged. Another eroded monument formerly held an inscription and displays a helmet above. A floor slab in the nave displays the missing brass of a knight of around 1500, believed linked to the Wentworth family. A floor slab in the chancel commemorates Thomas Wingfield (died 1632) and his wife Alice (died 1629), alongside two others from 1678 and 1696. A painted coat of arms of George IV is located on a nave wall.