Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary, Leigh

A church with significant medieval origins and substantial 19th-century restoration work. The present building dates from the 13th century, with the tower arch, south arcade of the nave, chancel arch and surviving east bay of the north arcade all from this period. The 14th century saw the addition of an arcade to the south chancel aisle. The west tower was commenced in the 15th century, though only nine feet of stone were built at that time; a timber belfry was erected on these walls, visible in an engraving of 1797. A bequest of 1525 refers to the "bildying of a new stepyll". The remainder of the north arcade was destroyed by fire during the reign of Henry VII.

The church was comprehensively restored in 1860-1861 by two architects working simultaneously. The division of responsibility reflected the historical separation of church ownership: the Lay Rector, Lord de Lisle of Penshurst Place, was responsible for the chancel and employed George Devey, while the parish was responsible for the remainder and employed Charles Baily, who was a cousin of Thomas Farmer Baily, the owner of Hall Place. This dual commission resulted in the use of different stone types. Charles Baily completed the tower and rebuilt most of the walls in freestone, while George Devey constructed a turret with a door providing access to the Lay Rector's pews in the chancel aisle. During this restoration, the west gallery was removed, old pews replaced by open seats, and a new organ installed.

Between 1889 and 1892, George Frederick Bodley undertook a comprehensive refurbishment of the chancel, installing a wooden screen, linenfold panelling, choir stalls and an alabaster reredos. In 1995, a small north vestry designed by Bodley was replaced by two-storey parish rooms designed by Neil Macfadyen RIBA, funded by a bequest from Miss Winifred Genner.

The building is constructed in a mixture of sandstone and freestone with tiled roofs.

Exterior

The church comprises a three-bay nave with a lower three-bay chancel, a west tower, a south porch and a south turret to the south aisle of the chancel.

The west tower has four stages. The lowest stage is of sandstone; the upper stages are of freestone. The tower features diagonal buttresses, an octagonal south turret, a crenellated parapet and a moulded band with gargoyles. The west face has a Perpendicular west door with hood moulding and spandrels containing quatrefoil and blank shield motifs. The second stage has a triple window with cinquefoil heads. The third stage has a four-centred arched window. The top stage has paired windows with cinquefoil heads.

The south aisle has two arched windows with cinquefoil heads and is accessed via a gabled south porch with cusped bargeboards and timber-framed structure.

The north side of the nave has two arched windows with cinquefoil heads divided by buttresses and a single-bay north aisle with a gable and paired trefoil-headed window.

The south side of the chancel has two lancet windows divided by buttresses and an octagonal turret with trefoil-headed entrance. The east end has a lancet window. The north side of the chancel is now occupied by the two-storey gabled parish rooms. The chancel itself is gabled with a tall paired lancet window with a roundel above.

Interior

The west tower contains a 13th-century tower arch. A wooden screen dates from 1893 and was re-sited from its original position between the nave and the chancel. An octagonal Perpendicular font features bowls panelled with quatrefoil motifs containing alternate floral motifs and grotesque masks.

The turret contains a 15th-century stone spiral staircase in its lower part. Above is a 19th-century bell frame with four exposed wooden corner posts. The five bells date from 1636, 1640 and 1731, recast in 1871, with a sixth bell of 1931. The west window contains 19th-century stained glass depicting the Nativity.

The nave has a 13th-century south arcade with circular columns and two-chamfered arches. The east bay of the south aisle contains a stained glass window to the memory of Edward Gower of Ensfield depicting sowing, reaping and ploughing. One pier of the 13th-century north arcade is half buried in the wall and retains original red stencilling. The nave roof is 19th-century, of crown-post type with four head braces and two purlins.

To the east of the north aisle pier is a re-sited 16th-century brass of circa 1580 depicting an open coffin with an angel blowing a trumpet or trombone. The Hine memorial window of circa 1915 unusually depicts St Joan, St Patrick and St George and is by AK Nicholson of Gower Street.

A 17th-century wooden pulpit incorporates an hourglass stand dated 1597. The pews are 19th-century. The north aisle window has a top light with 14th-century stained glass depicting the Virgin and Child; the remainder is 19th-century.

The chancel arch is 13th-century and identical to the tower arch. A 14th-century arcade serves the chancel, which also contains a piscina. The south aisle of the chancel contains a pipe organ of circa 1879 by Hill and Son. The chancel roof is a 19th-century barrel-vaulted wooden roof.

The north wall contains wall monuments including a circa 1717 monument to Abraham Harrison of Hall Place, featuring a cartouche with drapery and the head of a putto at the bottom. Ledger stones commemorate the Carte family, and a brass to Thomas Chanu, soldier-at-arms (died 1407), is located in the Sanctuary.

The alabaster reredos and linenfold panelling were installed by Bodley, along with a series of contemporary stained glass windows. The east window, in memory of the Countess of Albemarle (died 1892), depicts the Coronation of the Virgin and the Blessed in Heaven.