Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a Grade I listed parish church located in Sturminster Marshall. The church features a nave and north arcade dating from the 12th century, a north aisle rebuilt in the 14th century, a west tower from the 15th century, and a south wall and porch from the 18th century (1720). The chancel was rebuilt in the late 19th century, with restoration occurring in 1908. The walls are constructed of ironstone rubble, with some flintwork, and include large quoins and bands of limestone. The ironstone ashlar is made of both small (in the chancel) and large blocks (in the nave), with limestone dressings, a plinth, and eaves moulding in parts. The roof is tiled, with stone slates on the lower courses.

On the south wall of the nave, there are two round-headed windows featuring simple architraves and keys. The north aisle wall, primarily from the 14th century, has three windows, two of which are from that period. The west end displays earlier masonry and remnants of a north door, while the chancel has a window on each wall in the style of the 14th century. The tower consists of two external stages, topped with a crenellated parapet and corner pinnacles. It features coupled traceried openings in the bell stage and a lower window on the west face, along with a plinth, weathered band, and a moulded band beneath the parapet. The south porch contains a re-set Norman doorway.

Inside, the Norman arcade showcases round arches on cylindrical columns, each with scalloped caps and square bases. The tall tower arch has two moulded orders. The Purbeck font, dating to around 1400, features an octagonal bowl with coupled arches on each face, supported by a narrow column resting on a 13th-century inverted bowl that has been re-cut. The fittings are from 1908, but the church also contains a Royal Coat of Arms of George III from 1800 and a small inscribed brass from 1517.