Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a red brick building with stone dressings and a slate roof, dating from 1871-2 and designed by Michael P Manning, constructed by Dove Brothers. A south aisle and chapel were added around 1891-2. The church is built in the Early French Gothic style.

The exterior features a three-bay aisled nave with a clerestory and a north transept, an apsidal-ended sanctuary, and a south-east chapel. The main entrances are on the north and west elevations, each with a gabled portico or hoodmould, featuring brick moulded arches with bas relief tympana. Lancet windows are slightly pointed. The transept is gabled with three arcaded windows, a plate tracery rose window, and three linked lancets in the apex. The chancel has five plate tracery windows, flanked by buttresses; the west end has three arcaded windows and a plate tracery rose window flanked by oculi.

The interior includes a wagon roof to the nave and transept, while the chancel and south-east chapel are vaulted; the aisles have flying buttresses. The columns have capitals carved with stiff leaf motifs. Notable features include stained glass by Clayton and Bell and CE Kempe, enamelwork by Henry Holiday, a reredos and pulpit by GF Bodley, and oak seating by Temple Moore.

Historically, due to the first incumbent's High Church practices, St Mary the Virgin was not consecrated until 1885. From 1901-15, the vicar, Percy Dearmer—editor of the English Hymnal and Songs of Praise—transformed the church into a showcase for liturgical worship and music, including whitewashing the original red and black interior.