Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church largely dating to the 14th century, with a 15th-century west tower and chancel arch. A south aisle clere storey and porch were added in the late 15th century, while a north chapel and Easter sepulchre were probably built around 1536. Early 19th-century alterations occurred, followed by a restoration in 1874, and the south door was added in 1892. The work around 1536 is attributed to Thomas Weaver, and the 1874 restoration was carried out by Benjamin Ferrey. The church is constructed of greensand ashlar, with bands of flint and greensand ashlar, and ashlar dressings. It has lead roofs with gable stone copings.

The plan includes a nave, chancel, west tower, south aisle, south porch, and north chapel (likely originally two-storied). The nave is in the Decorated style, while the rest of the church, encompassing both medieval and 19th-century elements, is in the Perpendicular style. The Easter sepulchre is a significant example of early Renaissance work. The nave window features two lights with curvilinear tracery under a pointed head. The south aisle has original two and three-light windows with curvilinear tracery under pointed heads, and square heads; the labels have carved stops. The chancel contains two and three-light 19th-century windows under pointed heads. The north chapel’s east window is a three-light design with intersecting tracery under a four-centred head, while its west windows consist of two levels of three-light, square-headed openings. A continuous embattled parapet with a string course and moulded coping runs along the south porch and aisle. The porch’s rounded head has a moulded label with carved stops, and the clerestory has two-light square-headed windows. The three-stage west tower is embattled with diagonal and square-set buttresses that terminate in pilasters to the upper stage. A parapet string displays gargoyles. A three-light, pointed window is located on the west side, and the belfry has two-light pointed windows.

Inside, the church features a pointed chancel arch of two chamfered orders and a pointed tower arch of two chamfered orders that die into responds. A three-bay pointed arcade with single chamfered orders extends down rectangular piers. The nave roof is a segmental timber barrel, while the chancel has a tie-beam roof. A 12th-century font, square with arcaded sides set on a cylindrical shaft with small corner shafts, is also present. The 18th-century pulpit has two levels of fielded panelling. Other features include reset masonry fragments, late 17th-century communion rails from Pembroke College, Oxford, with twisted balusters, and 18th and 19th-century monuments, along with some early glass. The Easter sepulchre is a recess with a four-centred head flanked by columns bearing volutes and arabesques, supporting an entablature with an inscription. Further recesses above are flanked by two angels in high relief. The church is considered extremely interesting and well-preserved.