Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary

A parish church of Norman origins with substantial medieval development. The building comprises a nave with north and south aisles, south porch, central tower, north and south transeptal chapels, and chancel. The tower is dated 1606 at the time of rebuilding, though its core is late Norman. The main body of the church is 14th century, with enlargement and repairs undertaken in 1841 (dated on the porch) and restored in 1888–9.

The exterior is built of rubble with stone dressings and slate roofs featuring weathered raised coped verges and kneelers. The tower roof is leaded. The architectural style is predominantly Decorated, evident in the aisles.

The west front of the nave contains a three-light window with hood mould, a lancet above with stone bell louvres and hood mould topped by a cross finial, and a door to the south with a four-centred arched head and hood mould bearing angel stops. Each aisle's west front has a similar window and lancet above, with weathered angle buttresses. The four-bay aisles feature to the north four three-light windows with flat hood moulds and ogee-headed cusped tracery; the south aisle has similar windows with trefoil heads. A two-storey porch in the third bay from the left has a pointed arched opening in chamfered surround with hood mould bearing mask stops and a dated inscription of 1841. Above is a small unglazed window with iron lattice; gargoyles sit at the eaves.

The south transeptal chapel has a window matching those of the south aisle and a door to the south with Tudor arched head and moulded surround. Its east side displays a three-light window with pointed arch and hood mould. The north transeptal chapel contains a vestry with pitched roof and a similar east window. The three-stage tower features a north-east stair turret with pointed arched door, slit windows, and battlements. The second stage has two-light windows with round heads, chamfered surrounds, and relieving arch; a clock occupies the east face. The third stage holds windows with bell louvres—two-light to north and south, single light to east and west. The tower displays plain strings, quoins, an embattled parapet, large pinnacles, and a central weathervane.

The two-bay chancel has two windows to the south matching those of the south aisle, a central blocked priest's door, and two similar windows to the north. The east window is a four-light Perpendicular style composition with hood mould, quatrefoil above, and cross finial.

Interior

The porch features a 20th-century door. The nave has five-bay arcades with octagonal piers bearing moulded capitals and pointed arches of two chamfered orders. A parvise door in the south aisle has a depressed four-centred arched head. The tower is supported on Transitional Norman arches springing from piers with scalloped capitals and keel-moulded jamb shafts. The arch to the south is later and springs from the floor with deeply hollowed mouldings. A high pointed arch with moulded surround connects the aisles and chapels.

The south transeptal chapel contains a Perpendicular style tomb recess with ogee crocketed arch and pinnacles, and a pointed arched door with battlement top to the east. The north transeptal chapel holds a vestry door in chamfered surround and a Perpendicular style niche for a statue set in the east wall.

The tower crossing has a ceiling divided into nine panels with heavy beams supported by corbels. The nave, aisles, chapels, and chancel feature coved ceilings. The chancel contains a stone panel at its east end divided into squares displaying a non-repeating pattern of flowers, with plain continuation to north and south incorporating a piscina to the south. Wood panelling with shields and arms, originating from Bristol Cathedral, lines the north and south walls.

Fittings include a 19th-century font, pulpit, and pews. A Jacobean sanctuary chair stands in the chancel, with another in the tower crossing. A Jacobean carved chest is positioned in the south transeptal chapel. A brass chandelier in the nave, comprising three tiers surmounted by a bird and originating from Bristol Cathedral, hangs above. A brass monument in the south transeptal chapel depicts two kneeling figures in tabards, commemorating Morys Denys and his son, dated 1496. A monument in the recess in the north aisle honours Ralph Green, vicar from 1590 to 1639. Ledger stones from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries lie in the tower crossing and north aisle. Numerous 18th and 19th-century marble monuments include one in the north transeptal chapel to Rice Charleton with tracery and angel corbels (1788); one in the north aisle with a mourning female, to Samuel Peach and family members (1785 by W. Paty); one to Clarissa Peach (1836 by Daw of Berkeley); one with Latin inscription to John Camplin (1799 by Drewett); and one in the south aisle with urn to Edward Bailey (1748 by Drewett). A hatchment occupies the north aisle, with three at the west end of the nave. An external monument on the wall of the south aisle, bearing a skull, commemorates Richard Seagar (1663).

The east window is by A. Gibbs. The south window dates to 1893 by Kempe. The north window dates to 1846 by Willement.