Parish Church Of St Mary

The Parish Church of St Mary is a substantial building with origins dating back to around the 12th century, with significant alterations and additions made over the subsequent centuries. The chancel largely dates to the 12th century, while the nave was rebuilt in the 15th century. A south chapel and south porch were added at this time, along with the eastern two bays of the north aisle and the separating arcade. Shortly thereafter, the north aisle and arcade were extended westward, and a west tower was constructed. A south vestry was added in the late 15th century. In 1858, the stone wall above the screen was removed and a chancel arch was inserted. The roofs were restored in 1890, the tower in 1906, and an organ chamber was added in 1911.

The church is constructed of local rubble walls, faced with ashlar, and dressed with Ham Hill stone. The roofs are covered with stone slates and lead. The chancel slightly projects beyond the vestries. A 14th-century east window features restored tracery. On the north wall is a 15th-century window composed of two cinquefoiled ogee lights within a square head. The south wall contains a window with late 14th-century jambs and splays.

The nave, spanning five bays across two stages, incorporates a north aisle and a south chapel of two bays each. A 15th-century window, situated west of the south doorway, comprises three cinquefoiled lights with panel tracery set within a two-centred arch. The south doorway itself has moulded jambs and a two-centred arch. The south chapel dates to the mid-15th century and is buttressed, with an embattled parapet that extends along the porch and nave walls. The south wall of the chapel includes three windows; the easternmost is a late 14th-century replacement consisting of two trefoiled ogee lights within a pointed head, with moulded reveals. The south porch is continuous with the south chapel, its outer archway mirroring the detail of the south arcade of the nave, above which is a niche with a carved bracket. The mid-15th-century west tower rises across three stages with octagonal angle turrets. It has a moulded plinth and embattled parapet, pinnacled and with an octagonal northeast turret. The west doorway is recessed within a shallow, heavily ornamented porch. The west window has four cinquefoiled lights with vertical tracery in a pointed head, with moulded reveals and label, flanked by niches. The west wall features three large niches with foliated brackets, two containing statues. The bell chamber has a pair of windows on each side.

Internally, the nave's north arcade comprises moulded pointed arches supported by shafted piers. The south wall exhibits a 15th-century arcade of two bays with corresponding detail, alongside a passage and steps leading to a former rood-loft. The tower arch is two-centred and moulded, springing from moulded and shafted responds with foliated capitals; its reveals and soffit are panelled. The roof is a restored 15th-century design, with a low pitch, six bays, moulded principals, purlins, brattished plates, and moulded stone cornices. The north and south aisles have 15th-century pent roofs. A 15th-century font is characterized by its ornate design, featuring an octagonal bowl, a stemmed base, and free-standing corner piers carved with figures. A stone screen with a central doorway has a septfoil head. The church also contains early 16th-century carved bench ends and pew backs. An oak pulpit, dated 1632, is complemented by sounding boards. A collection of medieval and 17th-century chests are preserved, alongside four piscine. Numerous 18th and 19th-century monuments and floor slabs are also present.