Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church dating from 1846, designed by G Alexander. It is constructed of Greensand ashlar with a chamfered plinth, diagonal buttresses, and a string course. The building has gable-ended roofs with stone copings. The plan comprises a nave, chancel, north and south aisles, a south porch, and a west tower. It is executed in the Perpendicular style.

The tower is two-stage, with embattled parapets; diagonal buttresses to the lower stage and pilaster strips above; an octagonal vice turret with loops; a west window of 3-lights with a 2-centred head and returned label; a 2-light square-headed window with a returned label higher in the first stage; and 2-light belfry windows with 2-centred heads and returned labels. The north aisle has 5 bays, with a north wall west window of 3 lights with a square head and returned label, and other north wall windows of 2-lights under 2-centred heads with returned labels. East and west wall windows of 3-lights have 2-centred heads and returned labels. The south aisle’s south wall has two 2-light windows under 2-centred heads, an east wall 3-light, square headed window with returned label, and east and west wall windows of 3-lights with 2-centred heads and returned labels. The chancel has a 2-light, 2-centred window on its north wall. The south wall has two similar windows, and a 2-centred chamfered door in a square surround with the string stepped up to form a label; the original ribbed plank door remains. The east window is of 4-lights under a 2-centred head with a stopped label. The south porch is gabled with a 2-centred, moulded head, continuous jambs and stopped label. A reset tablet dated 1636 is positioned over the inner door.

Inside, a 5-bay arcade features 2-centred arches of 2 chamfered orders on octagonal piers with capitals and bases. The chancel and tower arches are 2-centred and moulded with continuous jambs. The roof is arch-braced collar trusses springing from corbels. A trefoiled piscina is located in the chancel. A C15 reset niche with an ogee head and ribbed soffit, containing a fragment of sculpture, is also present. A round, C13 font sits on a cylindrical stem with a round roll moulded base; it is covered by a C17 font cover. Various C17, C18, and C19 monuments are displayed, including one to Elizabeth (Branthwayte) Webb, dated 1627, with a broken pediment, marble columns, and Corinthian capitals. C19 pews, a stone pulpit with ballflower, cross and Lombardic lettering in marble, a C17 set of Royal arms on a wood panel, and C19 glass are also features of the interior.