Parish Church Of St Mary

The parish church of St Mary in Marshfield is an Anglican church, largely rebuilt in the Perpendicular style around 1470, with a 12th-century origin. It was restored in 1860 by C.E. Davis of Bath, and further restored in 1887, 1902-03, with the addition of a north aisle in 1950. The church comprises a west tower, a nave with a clerestory, north and south aisles, and a chancel, with a south porch. The construction utilizes ashlar and coursed squared rubble, with Cotswold stone slate roofs on the nave and slate elsewhere.

The west tower has three stages, diagonal buttresses, an open parapet with trefoils and pinnacles, and a polygonal stair turret to the south-east. It includes a two-light Perpendicular window in the bell chamber, beneath a hood mould with stops, a 19th-century west door with a moulded surround. The north aisle features four square-headed Perpendicular windows of four lights with reticulated tracery, largely restored in 1860, with buttresses between. The east window is a five-light window. Unusual Perpendicular windows mark the south aisle, characterized by three lights, cusped four-centred heads, embattled transoms in the tracery, mouchettes, and a four-centred head with a hood mould linked by a string course. A projecting window of five lights denotes a former chantry tomb, while a blocked priest's door with a four-centred head is also present, along with buttresses and angle buttresses. The south porch has a coped gable with a saddle stone and cross finial, a double chamfered door surround under a hood mould, and incorporates a sundial. The chancel contains Perpendicular windows similar to those in the south aisle, a restored three-light east window, and diagonal buttresses.

Inside, a mutilated image niche sits above the south door, with a 20th-century statue. A 19th-century south door of Perpendicular style features square head and quatrefoils. The nave has three bays, with semi-cylindrical shafts alternating with wave mouldings and round moulded capitals. A Perpendicular roof sits atop carved corbel heads, and the easternmost bay of the south arcade contains a blocked round-headed window. The chancel arch integrates into the wall. Two bays of the choir remain, utilizing space formerly occupied by a central tower, mirroring the nave's mouldings. A single bay provides access to the sanctuary, including a pillar piscina and late Perpendicular triple sedilia. A restored Perpendicular pillar piscina is found in the north chapel. The south chapel incorporates a damaged image niche and piscina, the latter reset over a 19th-century priest's door. The font is 15th-century, with an octagonal bowl featuring quatrefoils and shields, and has been restored. The pulpit is Jacobean, also restored, and consists of carved oak on an ashlar base. A 17th-century Holy Table, a 1725 Bristol-style brass chandelier, and pews with doors from 1860 are also present. A screen, designed in 1925 by Sir Harold Brakspear, divides the space. Monuments are located throughout the church, including those dedicated to Gibbes, Long, Gostlett, Ince children, Webb, Holister, Tyler, Helsam, Bearpacker, Briscoe, C. Webb, and N. Webb.