Church Of St Mary Magdalene

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is a parish church with origins in the 15th century, significantly rebuilt in 1863 by J. Hayward. It is constructed of local stone rubble with Bathstone ashlar dressings, and has a slate roof with crested ridge tiles. The church’s plan comprises a nave, a narrower chancel under a continuous roof, a south porch, and a west tower. A lean-to vestry is located on the north side of the chancel. The tower is in the Perpendicular style, while the nave is Early English and the chancel is Decorated.

The west tower, of two stages, features low diagonal buttresses and a semi-hexagonal stair turret on the south side. It has an embattled parapet over a moulded cornice enhanced with carvings and carved gargoyle water spouts. Tall, transomed two-light belfry windows are present, with trefoil-headed lights. The west doorway is a two-centred arch with a moulded surround and hoodmould adorned with rosettes carved on the label stops. Above this doorway is a two-light window featuring Perpendicular tracery and a hoodmould. The north and south sides of the nave have four bays, alternating lancet and two-light windows with plate tracery. The south side incorporates a gabled porch with a two-centred outer arch, also with a moulded surround. The south doorway, similar in style, has a painted text around its head. The chancel possesses a lancet on the south side and a three-light east window, both incorporating Perpendicular tracery.

Inside, the nave and chancel share a continuous, open six-bay roof supported by arch-braced king post trusses, with texts painted along the wall plate. The probably 15th-century tower arch is constructed of Beerstone and is panelled. A continuous embattled cornice runs around the walls, which are painted and conceal a William Morris painted stencil design. The floor is laid with red and black tiles. The church’s furniture and fittings date to circa 1863 and are original. These include a brass altar rail with twisted standards and leafy brackets, a stained pine pulpit, reading desk, stalls, and benches, all featuring minimal Gothic detail. A 15th-century style Beerstone font is also present. There are no memorials apart from a plaque commemorating the gift of the bells and glass, which date to 1889. Painted prayer and commandment plaques are also incorporated. The church is celebrated for its complete set of William Morris stained glass windows.