Church Of St Stephen

BEECHINGSTOKE - SU 05 NE 3/1 Church of St Stephen 19.3..62 II Anglican parish church, probably late medieval with work of 1693 to nave, 1791 to chancel, heavily restored 1861-9 by S.B. Gabriel of Bristol. Malmstone with limestone ashlar, ashlar quoins, plinth and eaves. Stone slate roof. Short nave, chancel, and south porch. Square headed windows, the tracery replaced in 1861 with pointed lights with quatrefoil heads. Two pointed headed west windows linked by hoodmoulding, and rose window over. Three light east window. South porch has narrow twice chamfered arch and medieval chamfered inner doorway. Corresponding door on north blocked. Gabled bellcote with twin C17 bells, and iron wind vane. South door to chancel has Tudor shaped head and incised date, 1791 CM (Charles Mayo, rector). Various graffiti on quoining dated 1717, 1709, 1727 etc. and 2 mass dials reset on north side. Datestone on east gable of nave reading 1693. Benchmark on north- east angle of chancel. Interior: Nave of 3 bays, open arch braced collar roof on stone corbels. Chancel arch C14 full width of chancel, the latter with scissor framed roof. Credence shelf in niche on north side. Painted inscriptions over chancel arch and under east window. Tiled floors, with 3 steps to altar. Glass by Wailes and Powell, 1848. Fittings: Pulpit, limestone, arcaded, with marble colonettes, 3 steps from chancel. Font, 1861, white limestone, a carved octagonal bowl on purbeck columns around a central stem. Monuments: Chancel, 3 wall tablets. On north, gabled white marble tablet on black, to Rev John Mayo, died 1779. South: White marble tablets with shaped tops, to Ann Sanders, died 1798, with Jane Mayo, died 1802, and Barbara Mayo, died 1796. Furniture: A small early C18 oak chest.

Listing NGR: SU0857459264