Church of St. Mary

Church of St. Mary, Lower Benefield

This is a medieval church that was largely rebuilt around 1847 by John Macduff Derick for the Watts-Russell family of Biggin Hall, and subsequently restored in 1897 and 1901. It is constructed in limestone ashlar and squared coursed limestone with a Collyweston slate roof.

The building comprises an aisled nave, chancel, north chapel, porch and west tower, designed in the Decorated style.

The chancel's south elevation features a three-window range of tall two-light windows with two-stage buttresses between them. A steep gabled roof with ashlar gable parapets and finial tops the elevation. The five-light east window contains reticulated tracery and may be re-used from an earlier building, with flanking two-stage buttresses and a niche above. The north elevation of the chancel contains a single-window range similar to the south side. The north chapel abuts two bays of the chancel and has a two-window range of two-light windows matching the chancel, with a separate gabled roof at a lower eaves level and a two-light east window. A rectangular porch with a lean-to stone roof occupies the angle between the chancel and north chapel, with a doorway featuring a Caernarvon head.

The south aisle consists of four bays with a three-window range of three-light windows with four-centred arch heads. A south door, positioned left of centre, has a two-centred arch head and chamfered and moulded surround. All openings on this side feature carved label stops. Flat two-stage buttresses between windows have gablets to the lower stage. A stone gutter with flower head frieze runs beneath, and the steep gabled roof features gable parapets, kneelers and finials. Three-light east and west windows with complex tracery light the end walls.

The north aisle comprises three bays with a two-window range of three-light windows under four-centred arch heads. The steep gabled roof has a stone gutter with a corbel table decorated with ball flowers, and ashlar gable parapets, kneelers and finials. A gabled porch in the centre bay contains doorways with two-centred arch heads and floret decoration. A three-light west window is present. The north transept projects forward to the left with a three-light north window containing geometrical tracery and a small door in the return wall. An octagonal stone flue stands at the intersection of the north aisle and transept. All openings feature carved label stops.

The nave clerestory has a four-window range of three-light and curved triangle windows, not visible behind the aisle roofs. A steep gabled roof with stone gutter, ashlar gable parapets, kneelers and finial crowns the nave. The west tower has two stages with a chamfered plinth and four-stage angle buttresses to the lower stage. The lower stage is probably medieval. A small 19th-century west doorway with a Caernarvon head has a two-light window above it, with two stairway slits to the right. A quatrefoil circle appears in the north and south faces. The upper stage dates to around 1847 and has paired two-light bell-chamber openings to each face, a moulded corbel table with gargoyles at the corners, and an octagonal ashlar broach spire with two tiers of lucarnes.

Interior

The interior features a four-bay nave arcade of double chamfered arches supported on circular and octagonal piers, each with different capitals. A double chamfered chancel arch has continuous responds. A polygonal respond of a medieval chancel arch is visible on the left side in the chancel. A triple-chamfered tower arch with polygonal responds, probably medieval and restored in 1847, connects the nave and tower. Double chamfered arches open to the north chapel and north transept. The 19th-century roof structures comprise arched braced trusses with curved wind bracing in the nave, while the chancel and north chapel have panelled roofs with painted barrel vaults.

A chancel screen and rood loft dating to around 1847 features a wooden spiral stair, with rood figures above dating to around 1904 by Sir Ninian Comper. Painted wall decoration extends behind. A similar north chapel screen and organ case occupy the north chapel, and a north transept screen from around 1926 has a reset openwork centre panel from around 1700 with flanking turned balusters. A reredos to the altar in the north transept matches this style. The north chapel was designed around 1926 by the Honourable C. Yorke in memory of Captain Arthur Egerton Watts-Russell of Biggin Hall. Encaustic tiled floors are throughout.

Stained glass of 19th-century date occupies the east windows and south aisle windows, with other windows containing painted and coloured glass. Two medieval misericords, said to have come from the Church of St. Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay, are installed. An altar reredos by Comper, a 19th-century stone pulpit and a 19th-century octagonal font complete the interior fittings.

Monuments include an inscribed brass tablet for Elizabeth Grant (died 1698) on the north wall of the chancel and a marble slab for Mark Lewis (died 1620) in the tower.