Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church, likely originating in the 15th century, though largely rebuilt between 1862 and 1865 by Edward Ashworth. Original fittings and monuments were retained from the earlier church. Constructed of stone rubble with limestone detailing, the church has a slate roof. It comprises a nave, north and south aisles with a chapel attached to the north side, a chancel, north and south chancel chapels, north and south porches, and a west tower. Both medieval and 19th-century elements are in the Perpendicular style.

The three-stage west tower has angle buttresses at the northwest and southwest corners, with set-back buttresses on the north and south faces. A five-sided stair turret is located on the north face. The tower features a pointed-arched west doorway with double-ogee mouldings, a restored C19 ribbed door with ornamental strap-hinges, and a restored 4-light traceried window above. Single-light windows with cinquefoil arches are present on the north and south faces of the second stage (one to the south having a square-headed slit window above). The east side has two-light apertures, one apparently reduced in height to insert a clock, while the others have pointed arches with plain pointed arches above each light. The stair turret has a probably C19 pointed-arched doorway with a plank door and ornamental strap-hinges, and five original slit windows. The tower is finished with a battlemented parapet. The rebuilt body of the church displays traceried windows, predominantly of three, four, or five lights, with pointed arches—except for the four-centred arches on the north and south sides of the chancel chapels. Hood moulds feature dramatic high-relief male and female heads as terminals.

Inside, the nave has six-bay aisle arcades with four-centred arches; similar two-bay arcades lead to the chancel. The nave and south aisle have false hammerbeam roofs, while arch-braced roofs cover the north aisle and chancel, and wagon roofs are over the chancel chapels. A Norman stone font with a scalloped bowl having carved panels and cable-mouldings is present. Doors within the tower arch are constructed from early 16th-century carved bench ends. A C19 pulpit, made of white marble veined with orange and featuring green and red marble attached columns and a figure of Christ, is also located within the church. A glass screen between the north aisle and chapel was engraved by Peter Tysoe in 1982. Several stained glass windows exist, including an east window by A Gibbs, 1865, and a north window by Dix. Several monuments contribute to the historical significance; a traceried stone screen between the chancel and south chapel incorporates the tomb of Sir Thomas Graynfild (died 1514), featuring a chest with quatrefoil panels and a recumbent figure in armour. A wall monument in the south aisle bears a high-relief bust of John Strange, a merchant (died 1646) and four times mayor of Bideford, and an inscription recording his work during the plague, of which he died.