Church Of St Mary

Church of St. Mary

Parish Church. Built in 1853-4 by architect Salvin, with a porch added in 1868. The church is constructed of flint with a plain tiled roof and comprises a nave, chancel, north tower, vestry and small south porch.

The exterior features round-headed windows with details imitating those of St. Nicholas, Barfreston, except for the east end which has triple arcaded pointed lancets with a wheel window above. The three-stage tower has blank arched recesses at the lower stage, moulded belfry openings and a spirelet. The north door displays 12th-century zig-zag moulding and a crudely carved relief of Christ in a mandorla. The south doorway features rich tympanum and capital carving also imitating Barfreston in comparable detail. The south porch is in Byzantine style, constructed of coloured marbles with heavy capitals, a billet-moulded arch and a Canterbury cross in the gable.

Interior features include the chancel stepping marked by a beaded and roll-moulded arch to the tower, and enriched window surrounds with attached shafts and zig-zag moulding. The nave roof has three king posts, while the chancel has a trussed rafter roof. The chancel includes a string course and enriched lower wall. A 13th-century trecusped piscina is located on the north wall, with a possibly original sedile on the south wall. A plain brass altar rail and painted ceiling are present.

Fittings include a reredos of 1871 with recesses left and right of a central full relief of the Last Supper. The stone pulpit dates to 1854 and features friezes depicting Christ preaching at several locations, with scenes continuing onto a projecting lectern at one corner. This pulpit was possibly carved by the first Lord Northbourne, who certainly carved parts of it. Behind the pulpit is a relief panel of St. Christopher, similar panels also appearing in Betteshanger House. An 18th-century chancel chandelier with eight branches is engraved "Ecclesia nullum tempus occupit". Iron candelabra elsewhere are probably by Salvin. Royal Arms of William III appear on the nave west wall. Stained glass in the nave is by Kempe, dated 1891.

Monuments are numerous and distributed throughout the church. In the nave: a monument to Elizabeth Boys (died 1640, erected 1649) is a black and white wall tablet with arched surround and pediment-shaped head. A black wall tablet to Laetitia Boys (died 1660) has a swagged base and broken segmental pediment on cornice. A small white wall tablet to John James (died 1775) has bracketed and enriched side pieces. White oval wall plaques commemorate John Boys (died 1799) and William Boys (died 1781). Edward Boys (died 1827) is commemorated by a white and black marble wall tablet with a sarcophagus, acroteria and urn, signed by Mullane of New Road, London. A C17-style wall plaque from the early 20th century, gilded and painted in white and black marble enriched with strapwork and ribband work, commemorates Henry Lambton (date not recorded).

In the chancel: Edward Boys (died 1649) has a black and white wall plaque with scrolled apron and swagged enriched scrolled side pieces supporting a segmental pediment within a swan-necked pediment, with coat of arms over. John Boys (died 1678) is commemorated by a white and black marble wall tablet with segmental pediment on Ionic columns with three cartouches over. Edward Boys (died 1691) has a white oval wall tablet with cherub's head base, swan-neck pediment and cartouche. A fine black marble floor plaque to John Boys (died 1678) is positioned before the altar.

In the tower are a series of poor 19th-century tablets to the Morrice family, and a free-standing wall monument to Admiral Salmon Morrice (died 1740) signed by P. Scheemakers. The monument features a white marble base with relief of ships in full sail and side pieces carved with navigation aids and trophies. A black marble sarcophagus with inscription is flanked by trophies and a cannon passing behind the chest, and is crowned with a portrait bust of Morrice with a grey marble obelisk background and cartouche over.