Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary, Iwerne Courtney or Shroton, Main Street

This is a church of substantial architectural interest, combining work from the 14th century onwards. The chancel dates to the 14th century, while the tower was built in the 15th century. The nave, north aisle, and south chapel were added at various periods, with general remodelling undertaken in subsequent centuries. The south aisle and south porch date to the 17th century. Further significant alterations occurred in 1871 when the chancel was remodelled, with a vestry added in the late 19th or early 20th century. A notable commission of work was undertaken in 1610 for Sir Thomas Freke.

The exterior is constructed of greensand ashlar with tiled roofs finished with end stone copings and 17th-century finials. A moulded cornice runs around the building. The plan comprises a nave, chancel, north aisle, south aisle, south chapel, a west tower, and a north vestry.

The west tower is divided into three stages by weathered strings. The first stage has diagonal buttresses and corner pilaster strips. A pointed two-light west window with stopped labels pierces this stage, with rectangular loops opening to north and south. The second stage carries pointed two-light belfry windows with stopped labels.

The windows throughout show various periods of work. The north aisle and south chapel windows are 17th-century examples consisting of three graduated lancets under a pointed head with returned labels; the south aisle windows are a 19th-century copy of this design. The north and south chancel walls retain 14th-century two-light windows featuring ogee quatrefoils. A 14th-century pointed doorway opens from the south chancel wall. The east chancel window is a later three-light design with rose tracery.

The south porch features diagonal buttresses and a pointed arch.

Internally, the north aisle contains a 17th-century arcade of three bays with segmented pointed arches carried on piers with four attached shafts separated by a continuous hollow chamfer. The chancel arch and the arch connecting the south chapel to the nave follow a similar architectural vocabulary. The 19th-century south arcade comprises two bays with pointed arches on piers with four attached shafts. The tower arch is pointed, formed of three straight chamfered orders; the outermost order is continuous while the inner two die into flat jambs.

The roofs display considerable craftsmanship. Those covering the nave and north and south aisles are 19th-century ribbed barrel vaults of semi-circular profile. The nave and south aisle roofs are enriched with carved bosses, and the nave roof has carved angles at the springing points of the ribs. The south chapel roof is a three-bay arch-braced collar beam structure with carved bosses. The chancel roof comprises two bays with arch-braced collar beams and a king post with struts, featuring carved bosses. The wall plate is decorated with paterae, and the principals spring from 19th-century foliage-carved corbels.

The north aisle was partitioned in the 17th century by a screen forming the Freke chapel. This screen has two levels of panelling surmounted by a range of colonnettes with open lattice work. An enriched entablature with carved heads runs above, topped by strapwork cresting.

The furnishings include a 19th-century piscina and a 19th-century terracotta reredos designed by Lady Baker. The font is octagonal and probably dates to the 12th century, though it was retooled in the 17th century. The church contains a number of monuments and floor slabs from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Most notable is that commemorating Sir Thomas Freke and his wife Elizabeth, dated 1633, which features an open segmental pediment, sculptured decoration, and carved putti, angels, and doves. Other fittings and furnishings are largely 19th-century in date.

St Mary's is of considerable interest as an example of 17th-century Gothic work, with stylistic affinities to the chapel at Higher Melcombe House, also commissioned by Sir Thomas Freke. It differs stylistically, however, from the series of 17th-century churches in north Dorset including those at Folke, Ryme Intrinsica, and Leweston.