Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a church that existed by 1618, with repairs recorded in 1678 (marked by a plaque at the east end), a south aisle and tower likely dating to the late 18th century, and a restoration in 1897 by Austin and Paley. It is constructed of stone rubble, with the south side slate-hung, and has slate roofs. The church consists of a nave and chancel, a west tower, a gabled south aisle, and a lean-to vestry to the south of the tower. The tower’s pointed entrance has continuous mouldings, and above it is a straight-headed window with two cusped lights, likely from the 19th century. The bell stage features paired round-headed bell openings in ashlar surrounds with louvres, and a projecting embattled parapet with simple crocketed pinnacles. A clock face is located on the north side. The vestry has a casement window and roughcast to the tower above, with a lead dripcourse. The north side features irregularly placed windows with two round-headed lights of varying heights; the east end window bears the inscription "EX DONO THO: PRESTON AR/1678". The south side has similarly styled two-light windows, regularly spaced. The east end has a coped gable with a chancel cross. A window with two ogee-headed lights is found in the north aisle, and the chancel has a three-light window with simple, uncusped tracery based on Gothic models. A plaque above records repairs by W. Robinson and T. Barwick in 1678. Inside, the nave has a roof of arch-braced collar trusses with turned kingposts and two tiers of wind braces, while the aisle roof is simpler with arch-braced collars; both are 19th century. A double-chamfered tower arch dies into the jambs. There is a simple octagonal font, a timber pulpit with rectangular tracery panels, similar panels on the stalls, and an altar rail with turned balusters - all dating to the 19th century. The organ is located at the east end of the aisle. The vestry has two ogee panels painted with a head of a crucified Christ and three cherubs.