Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church with origins in the early 12th century. The nave was extended in the late 12th century, while the early 14th century saw the addition of a chancel, transepts, and a small west tower. A 15th-century porch and a 19th-century north vestry and restoration also mark the building’s history. The church is constructed of flint and rubble walls, some chequered and banded, with parts rendered. Greensand and heathstone ashlar dressings are present, and the roofs are tiled.

The building follows a Greek cross plan, incorporating north and south transepts, a chancel, a nave, a south porch, a west tower, and a north vestry. The west tower is single-stage with a pyramidal tiled roof and features a 14th-century three-light window with reticulated tracery. The vestry has a pointed chamfered door and a single trefoiled-light window. The north transept includes a reset 13th-century lancet window, a 14th-century two-light pointed window, and a 15th-century east window with a square head, Perpendicular tracery, and a label with grotesque mask stops. The chancel has a 14th-century north window with a pointed head, two lights, and reticulated tracery, a similar window on the south wall, accompanied by a smaller trefoiled window to the west. The east window is restored and features pointed reticulated tracery. The south transept has a 15th-century three-light east window with Perpendicular tracery and a label featuring King and bishop stops; the south window is of two lights with a square head and tapering jambs. The south porch has a moulded, pointed arch with continuous jambs and a depressed ogee rere-arch. A carved stone cross is on the south face of the tower.

Inside, the restored 12th-century round-headed chancel arch is of a single plain order. Pointed transept arches from the 14th century are of two chamfered orders, the innermost dying into the responds; a pointed, chamfered tower arch is also present. The north transept features a 17th-century roof consisting of three arch-braced collar trusses with apex pendants springing from carved timber brackets. Queen-strut roofs are found in the nave and the south transept (the south transept roof may be 18th-century). The chancel is flanked by 14th-century pierced stone hagioscopes; a further traceried hagioscope is to the north. A 14th-century Decorated niche and piscina are located in the chancel, alongside 18th-century turned communion rails. A 16th-century south doorway incorporates a reused 12th-century sculptured lintel depicting the Angus Dei with seated figures. More recent additions include 20th-century pews and a pulpit, and a wall monument dated 1765 commemorating Richard Lawrence, the rector.