Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is an Anglican church originally built between 1751 and 1754 by Launcelot Dowbiggin. A portico was added in 1903, and the majority of the building was rebuilt between 1955 and 1956 following bomb damage, to the designs of Seely and Paget. The church is constructed of brick in Flemish bond, and stone, with a roof concealed by a parapet.

The west front and east end each feature three bays, while the sides have eight bays, with the easternmost bay projecting. The portico, spanning the western three bays, has coupled Ionic columns and engaged Ionic antae, supported by a modillion cornice and a central segmental pediment displaying a low-relief Nativity scene. The outer bays are finished with a parapet and balustrade. A central flat-arched entrance leads to the church, flanked by blank windows with matching architraves and panelled doors. At gallery level, round-arched windows are set within stone architraves and keystones, with the middle bay projecting and featuring a pediment. The building has chamfered quoins and a modillion cornice, with a brick parapet to the side bays and stone coping.

The two-stage tower has chamfered quoins and a stone band between the stages. The first stage features a clock under a segmental pediment on all sides except the east, while the belfry has louvred windows with eared architraves and keystones, topped by a modillion cornice. Four stone urns are positioned on the tower's four corners, alongside an octagonal balustrade surrounding a spire that rises through octagonal and circular-arcaded stages to a tapering octagon. The side elevations possess stone architraves, with two windows in the westernmost bay, followed by full-height flat-arched windows in the next six bays, and a full-height tripartite window in the projecting final bay. The east end displays windows in the outer bays and a cruciform stone design in the middle, with a continuing cornice and parapet from the west front.

The interior is essentially a single space for worship, with small transepts on either side of the chancel. The walls are lined with cork, and a coffered ceiling is present throughout. Fluted grey marble columns with gilded palm leaf capitals define the chancel and transepts. A reredos in the form of a plain gilded cross is surrounded by painted panels depicting ‘The Eight Attributes of Christ’ by Brian Thomas, with a border of gilded paterae. The altar table, communion rails, and pulpits are in a 18th-century style, featuring carved and gilded scrolling foliage. An organ gallery occupies the west end, supported by wooden Tuscan columns that previously carried the original church's galleries. A central painted panel depicting ‘Christ the Judge’ by Brian Thomas is positioned within the gallery.