Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church with a medieval core that was enlarged and extensively restored between 1857 and 1863 for Sir Edward Kerrison and Rev. George Paterson. It features a mix of Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles. The church comprises a nave, chancel, north aisle (which includes the Cornwallis chapel), transept, west tower, and south porch. The structure is built from flint rubble, with 19th-century knapped flint facing, random stone admixture, and a flushwork frieze below the eaves. The roofs are slated.

The circular tower has a base that likely dates back to the 12th century, with 19th-century refacing. It has a narrower octagonal belfry stage, possibly from the 15th century, featuring mid-19th-century openings and a crenellated stone parapet. The north aisle windows are designed in the style of the 13th century. The transept, entirely from the mid-19th century, includes a three-light window in the style of the 14th century and angels at the foot of the gable. The south side is less altered, showcasing three-light Perpendicular windows in the nave and chancel, which have been largely renewed. The porch, dating from the 15th century, has a flushwork-panelled facade and features a broad shield above the entrance that was once painted with the Cornwallis arms.

Inside, there is a Neo-Norman aisle arcade and mid-19th-century furnishings, including an elaborate stone reredos and pulpit crafted by James Williams of Ipswich, along with a set of poppyhead benches. Notably, the church houses a series of monuments dedicated to the Cornwallis family of Brome Hall, including Sir John Cornwallis (1544) and Sir Thomas Cornwallis (1604), both with recumbent effigies on similar tomb chests, as well as wall monuments for Henry Cornwallis (1598), Elizabeth, Lady Cornwallis (1680), and Frederick, Lord Cornwallis (1661). The church also features complete mid-19th-century stained glass.