Church of St Mary

Church of St Mary

A parish church of limestone with stone slate roof, St Mary's in Charlton Kings was founded as a chapel of ease to Cheltenham parish church (also St Mary's). The building reflects its long and complex development, beginning with Norman origins around 1190, followed by substantial medieval expansion and extensive Victorian rebuilding.

The church comprises an aisled nave of three bays externally (though five bays internally), a south porch, a three-stage crossing tower, transepts, a two-bay chancel, and a north vestry. Its plan displays the Decorated style throughout.

The foundation date of around 1190 is evidenced by a mass dial now reset into the south wall near the westernmost buttress. Early medieval features include what are believed to be the remains of a Norman Chantry Chapel, dedicated around 1290, indicated by traces of low ribbed vaulting in the south transept with an ogee-arched piscina. A blocked east window in the north transept is probably also Norman in date.

The tower and south aisle date to approximately 1390-1400, whilst remodelling occurred in the 15th century. The north aisle and vestry were added in 1822-1824. In 1877-1878, architect John Middleton undertook heavy restoration and extension, including a rebuilding of the chancel and extension of the nave by one bay. The chancel itself is entirely of this Victorian period. Further vestry extensions followed in 1898, 1917, and 1988.

Externally, the church displays consistent Decorated Gothic character. The chamfered plinth runs throughout, with buttresses featuring off-sets providing structural emphasis. The south porch features a shallow four-centred arch with chamfered surrounds and a plank door. The south elevation shows three- and four-light windows with reticulated tracery heads bearing recut headstops. The north side has three three-light windows with reticulated-type tracery. The west end is particularly notable, featuring three gables with a central rose window, flanked by windows with reticulated tracery. The central entrance is pointed with a roll-moulded surround supported on pillars with inner chamfer. Both transepts are identical, each containing three-light windows with reticulated tracery. The north vestry has a four-centred opening between rectangular lights and a plank door, two three-light mullion windows, and a three-cusped-light window to its east end. The chancel displays two-light windows to the north and three-light windows to the east, both with reticulated tracery, and two further two-light windows to the south. The crossing tower displays diagonal buttresses, a south-east staircase, slit openings, bands, two-light belfry openings, and traceried crenellations with finials.

The interior reveals a nave arcade supported on alternating octagonal and cylindrical piers without capitals, all bearing double chamfers. The traces of low ribbed vaulting on the south transept support the identification of the former Chantry Chapel with its priest's chamber above. The ogee-arched piscina within this space is a notable survival.

The principal fittings include an octagonal tub font with curvilinear traceried decoration, probably of the 12th century but recut in the 14th century. The reredos was created by WH Fry of Charlton Kings in 1901. Fry also designed the oak screens spanning the transepts. Wall memorials date predominantly to the late 18th and early 19th centuries and commemorate villa residents of the period, including a notable memorial in the north transept to William Hunt Prinn of Charlton Park (died 1821), sculpted by T King of Bath, and another to Sir William Russell of Charlton Park (died 1838) by Lewis of Cheltenham.

The stained glass is predominantly by Curtis, Ward and Bell, and by Clayton and Bell. Most striking are three windows in the north aisle by Curtis, Ward and Hughes, dating to 1911-1914. The aisle west windows are by Clayton and Bell.

The architect John Middleton, responsible for the major restoration of 1877-1878, went on to design several other churches in the Cheltenham area, including All Saints on All Saints' Road, St Mark on Church Road, St Philip and St James on Gratton Road, St Stephen on St Stephen's Road, and Holy Apostles on London Road in Charlton Kings.