Church Of St Mary

HORHAM THE STREET TM 27 SW 5/53 Church of St Mary 29.7.55 GV II* Parish church. Medieval; the chancel was largely rebuilt 1879-81. Nave, chancel, west tower, south porch. Flint rubble with stone dressings, the nave plastered. The tower is faced in knapped flint with stone admixture. Slated roof to nave, zig-zag interlocking tiles to chancel. Fine square tower of c.1500, with 3 stages and a crenellated parapet. The parapet has good panelled flushwork and carved stone shields. The plinth and diagonal buttresses also have flushwork., Moulded west doorway with hoodmould and carved spandrels; original doors. Above is a 3-light window and higher up a small 2-light window with carved label stops. 3 faces have paired 2-light belfry openings; the south face has a single 3-light opening placed to one side of the stair turret. Beneath all the belfry lights are square flushwork panels. Core of nave is probably C12, the walls raised at a later date. C12 north and south doorways, that to the south with 2 orders of shafts, scalloped capitals and a roll and zig-zag in the arch. Simpler north doorway (blocked) with one shaft, scalloped capitals and a roll-moulded arch. 3-bay nave and 2- bay chancel, both with restored C15 square-headed 2-light windows. Priest's doorway. 4-light east window in Decorated style, entirely of c.1880. Red brick gabled porch, probably of C18 date. Interior. No chancel arch. A slightly cambered tie beam at the junction of the nave and chancel may be the rood beam; the tympanum above is plastered. C14 angle piscina in chancel. Rood loft stair in north east nave. C15 octagonal font, the bowl carved with shield-bearing angels alternating with lions; angels to the bowl underside and 4 lions against the stem. The tapering cover may be contemporary but is much restored. Good carved hexagonal pulpit with bracketed bookboard; this was originally a 2-decker and is dated by the adjacent panel, once the backboard, which is inscribed 'NOVE 29 1631'. Nave seating includes 13 C15 benches with poppyhead ends enriched with buttressing and fleurons; other C15 benches have plain poppyhead ends; all have later backs. 6 benches are of C16-C17 date, with stylised poppyheads and linenfold carving on the backs. Panelled infilling to tower arch; behind is an early C17 turned balustrade, perhaps once the altar rails. South west nave window contains many re-set fragments of medieval stained glass.

Listing NGR: TM2103372446