Parish Church Of St Mary

The Parish Church of St Mary is a complex building with origins dating back to the 12th century, and significant additions and alterations through the 13th, 14th, 15th, and 18th centuries. The west tower is from the 12th century, while the north and south aisles were added in the 13th century. A north chapel was constructed around 1330, followed by the chancel in approximately 1340. The clerestory is from the 15th century, and the north aisle was substantially rebuilt in 1801. The church is built of stone with lead and modern copper roofs.

The church comprises a two-bay chancel, a four-bay nave containing a tower in the west bay, a north-east chapel, and a south porch. The chancel’s east window is a three-light design with a flat head, featuring three south windows; two of these have two-light openings with cinquefoil ogee heads and quatrefoils, while the west window is a low side window with a transom. A mid-14th century doorway is present with a hood mould and animal head stops. The north chapel’s east window is a two-light design set within a two-centred head.

The nave has a moulded string with flower ornament below the parapet. The clerestory and east gable window each feature two-light, trefoiled openings with a quatrefoil in a two-centred head. The north aisle, rebuilt in 1801, displays intersecting tracery, as indicated by a date stone above the doorway. The south aisle’s east window is a 14th-century, three-light intersecting tracery window. Two further windows are found in the south wall, with the east one featuring three cinquefoiled ogee lights under a square head, and the west one a 13th-century lancet, along with a further window in the west wall.

The west tower has three stages, an embattled parapet, a single trefoil-headed window in the bell chamber, round-headed 12th-century windows to the second storey, and a two-light west window.

Internally, the chancel displays a two-bay arcade leading to the north chapel, featuring three orders and an octagonal pier. The chancel arch, dating from around 1350, has two orders; the inner order is moulded, and the outer is externally chamfered, with clustered shafts having moulded bases and caps. The nave arcades also date from around 1350, featuring acutely pointed arches of two moulded orders and a three-quarter hollow between them, with clustered shafts and similar detailing to the chancel arch. The nave roof is dated 1637. A font from around 1350 has an octagonal bowl with niches on each face, housing depictions of the Virgin and saints, whilst the octagonal stem features tracery panels of varying designs. A 17th-century communion table has plain turned legs. There is a 15th-century stained glass depiction of a bishop within a low side window in the chancel. 15th-century glass is also present in the nave's east window and the north-west clerestory window.

Monuments within the north chapel include a Decorated recess containing two carved oak effigies—a man in armour and a woman in a flowing, sleeveless gown—believed to represent Thomas Reynes (died 1293) and his wife, Joan. An altar tomb in the west bay features carved oak effigies of Sir Ralph de Reynes (died c.1309) and Annabelle Chamberlain, his wife. Another altar tomb in the east bay displays clunch effigies of Sir John de Reynes (died 1427) and Catherine Scudamore, his wife, with him depicted in armour. Each long side features eight tracery niches with alternating male and female figures, and two monuments represent a small family through the work of James Andrews of Olney. In addition, two 15th-century brasses are embedded in the floor. The oak effigies are considered a rare survival of considerable importance.