Church Of St Mary Magdalene

Church of St Mary Magdalene

A church of medieval origins with substantial 12th to 15th-century fabric. The chancel dates from the 12th century, though otherwise rebuilt in the 14th century. The nave arcades are 13th century, with north and south aisles and the south doorway and sanctus bellcote also dating from the late 13th century. A 14th-century vestry was added to the north, and the west tower and clerestory were built in the 15th century. The church was substantially restored in 1887 and 1889 under the architect Ewan Christian, and again in 1914–1921 by W.T. Loveday (architect) and Franklins of Deddington (builders).

The building is constructed in squared, coursed ironstone with lead roofs. It comprises a chancel, nave, north and south aisles, west tower, south chapel, and north vestry, presenting a seven-window range to the south.

The chancel features two-light Perpendicular windows on the north side and a four-light window with intersecting tracery on the east with renewed stone mullions. The south side has two-light Early English windows with pointed arched hood moulds and head stops. The south aisle contains windows of varied periods and designs: a stepped triple lancet, three-light Perpendicular and Decorated windows, and a trefoiled lancet, arranged around a gabled stone porch with a pointed arched doorway and plank door. To the left of the porch is a renewed three-light lancet window. A priest's doorway with cambered arched head, hood mould and plank door is positioned to the right of the porch. The north aisle has a pointed arched doorway with plank door, two two-light lancet windows, and a Decorated window with flowing and reticulated tracery. Both north and south clerestoreys have three two-light Perpendicular windows with hood moulds and label stops.

The north vestry, dating from the 15th century, has a single chimney stack. The west tower rises in three stages with a crenellated parapet and diagonal buttresses. Its west entrance is a pointed arched doorway with plank door. The first stage has a three-light Perpendicular window. Above are three blocked lancets, and the bell-stage contains a two-light louvred Perpendicular window. The tower has a stone plinth.

The interior shows a nave and chancel with restored arched tie beam roofs, while the north and south aisles have renewed roofs. The chancel contains a Decorated piscina and a pointed arched doorway to the 14th-century vestry with plank door and strap hinges. The chancel arch is decorated with responds featuring wave moulding. The impost of the 12th-century chancel arch has been reset behind the pulpit.

The nave has five-bay north and south arcades. The responds of the east arch of the north arcade are 12th century with large grooved imposts. The 13th-century arcades have double-chamfered arches and round piers with square bases. The two western piers on the south arcade are of quatrefoil section, probably dating from the 14th century. The south chapel is screened from the aisle and opens to the chancel through a wide 14th-century arch with half-octagonal responds. It contains a Decorated and a Perpendicular piscina. The screen in the south aisle is partly 14th century with renewed base and cresting. The screen between the chancel and south chapel incorporates 14th-century tracery.

The church contains numerous monuments and memorials. The south aisle has two arched 14th-century tomb recesses and a 14th-century slab with a foliated cross, as well as a floor brass to Henry Freebody (died 1444). The south chapel holds a monument to George Denton (died 1757) and four floor slabs to members of the Chamberlaine family, alongside memorials to the Wardle, Loveday and Wallace families. The chancel has a marble wall tablet to Edmund French (died 1776) and glass commemorating the Chamberlain family. An octagonal font, dated 1666, is present, with a renewed 19th-century font cover. A hatchment is displayed in the south aisle.