Church Of St Mary Magdalene

Church of St Mary Magdalene

A parish church of 13th to 15th century date, substantially restored in the 19th century. The building is constructed of flint with stone dressings, with 20th century tile roofs to the nave and chancel and leaded roofs to the aisles. The plan comprises a nave, aisles, a tower positioned in the west bay of the south aisle, a south porch, and a chancel.

The tower was largely rebuilt in the 19th century and consists of two stages with a battlemented parapet. The bell-chamber contains 19th century two-light traceried openings, each with a pair of quatrefoils above, while the lower stage features lancets. At the west end of the nave is a three-light window with reticulated tracery, partly original. A clerestory of late 15th century date runs along the nave with four bays of two-light traceried windows, all with four-centred heads and hoodmoulds; those on the south side are constructed of clunch. The aisles feature three-light traceried windows of late 14th to 15th century date, mostly restored.

The north aisle has a sill course broken up over a moulded doorway. A 13th century south doorway has a small two-centred chamfered arch with a stone seat to the right. The south porch dates to the 15th century and has a double chamfered arch, small rectangular openings to the sides, stone benches, and a fine roof with moulded timbers, queen struts and arched wind-braces. A moulded wooden cornice with carved rosettes and heraldic shields adorns the interior. An 18th century memorial tablet with flanking pilasters and an arched cornice is positioned at the centre of the north wall.

The two-bay chancel also has three-light traceried windows, with the larger example to the east featuring a sill course below.

The interior contains 14th century arcades: the north arcade comprises four bays and the south arcade three bays, all with moulded arches on quatrefoil piers with moulded capitals and labels with restored carved head stops. A 15th century roof features traceried spandrels supported on restored carved stone angel corbels. The south aisle contains a moulded arch to the tower, with carved stone corbels flanking the east window, and a cinquefoil piscina. Both aisles have long squints to the chancel. A moulded chancel arch on moulded piers with similar imposts separates the nave from the chancel. The chancel contains a trefoil piscina and canopied niches flanking the altar, which were renewed in the 19th century.

Fittings include a fine 13th century font with a round bowl decorated with shallow scallops, a fleuron frieze and cable mouldings at the base, the broad central cable featuring interlace ornament. Early 16th century pews with linenfold panels and moulded top rails occupy the nave. An altar-table of 17th century date features turned baluster legs. Painted hatchments are displayed throughout, along with 19th and 20th century dado panels, some carved, and 19th and 20th century glass.

The church contains several notable monuments. The most prominent is a marble wall monument to John Hampden, who died in 1643, erected by Robert Hampden in 1756. This monument features a sarcophagus and mourning putti, with an oval panel above showing an oak tree bearing coats of arms and a depiction of John Hampden fatally wounded at the Battle of Chalgrove Field. A marble wall monument to Thomas Kempthorne (died 1736) and his wife Anne (Hampden) features profile portrait medallions and Rococo swags. A tall wall tablet by Nicholas Stone contains John Hampden's epitaph to his wife Elizabeth, who died in 1634. A wall tablet to Richard Hampden and his wife, dated 1662, has flanking Ionic columns, carved side scrolls and a segmental pediment. An 18th to early 19th century memorial commemorates the mother of Thomas and John Trevor. Small brass inscription panels and coats of arms commemorate William Hampden (1597) and William Hampden (1612), with detached brass panels recording their children. John Hampden, the Parliamentarian, is traditionally believed to be buried in the churchyard.