Church Of St Mary

The Church of St. Mary is a parish church largely dating to the 11th century, with significant additions and alterations in the 13th, 14th, and 19th centuries. It comprises a chancel, a nave with a south aisle, a south west tower, and a western porch.

The church is constructed of flint, with the upper stages of the tower rebuilt in red brick, all set beneath a plain tiled roof. A roll moulded west door is situated within a 14th-century timber porch, which has a flint base and a cusped bargeboard. The porch interior features a crown post roof and benches. Massive offset buttresses are visible on the north side of the nave. Much of the exterior was heavily restored, notably the outer jambs of the chancel lancets and the decorated style nave windows; a downpipe hopper is dated 1879. An Anglo-Saxon north door is visible, with its original jambs, though it is blocked by a 12th-century round headed doorway.

Inside, a two-bay south arcade is supported by octagonal piers and features double chamfered arches; the western respond is of a later character. An identical arch defines the chancel. Remaining are the jambs of a tall, possible Anglo-Saxon door. The roof consists of crown posts. A 13th-century double chamfered arch leads to the south west tower, mirrored by an identical arch to the south aisle, indicating a later rebuild of the original 13th-century aisle openings. The chancel contains a two-light ogee headed window in the southwest corner, along with four closely packed and uneven lancets along the north and south walls, punctuated by a string course. A triple lancet east window is also present, accompanied by a string course. The chancel roof is supported by four crown posts and a moulded tie beam.

The church contains a simple trefoiled and deeply chamfered piscina in the chancel, and aumbreys in both the south and north walls. A turned baluster altar rail and a contemporary panelled pulpit are also present. Later medieval or 17th-century panelling was reused in dividing screens after the 1879 removal of box pews. A 15th-century rood screen features five bays with depressed ogee arches and six traceried lights above each flanking bay. A simple arched piscina is located in the south aisle. Wall paintings are found in the nave, within a round headed niche, and in the aisle depicting The Annunciation. 13th-century grisaille glass remains in a complete lancet within the chancel north wall, alongside two 16th-century armorial windows in the south wall. A brass memorial is inlaid in the nave floor commemorating John Halke, who died in 1604, and Anne his wife (d. 1596). A simple inscription is set in a marble slab, accompanied by a detached carved hawk; these were grandparents of Dr. William Harvey, the discoverer of the circulation of blood.