Church Of St Mary The Virgin

A church of mid-14th century and 19th-century date, constructed in squared coursed ironstone with limestone dressings and a lead roof. The building comprises an aisled nave, chancel, transepts, a south porch, and a west tower.

The chancel's south elevation features a range of three windows: large 3-light ogee-headed windows with Reticulated tracery, separated by three substantial 4-stage buttresses. A shallow gable roof with plain ashlar parapet tops this section. The north chancel elevation is similar to the south, with a vestry attached to the east end in matching style. A datestone above the vestry door records "S.W.P./Vicar/AD/1841". The east window is a large 5-light ogee-headed example with Reticulated tracery, flanked by buttresses. A square-headed gate opening below this window provides access to the Dolben family vault.

The south transept displays a 2-window range to the east and a single-window range to the west, both fitted with 3-light windows with Y-tracery. The south window is a 3-light ogee-headed design with Reticulated tracery. A shallow gable roof with castellated parapet and gargoyles crowns this elevation. The north transept is similar, with the addition of a castellated turret at its intersection with the chancel.

The south aisle contains a 3-window range of 3-light ogee-headed windows with Reticulated tracery, with a matching west window. It features a lean-to roof with castellated parapet and gargoyles. The north aisle comprises a 2-window range of similar design. Three- and 4-stage buttresses are positioned at all corners and between window ranges.

The nave clerestory displays an 8-window range of 2-light ogee-headed windows beneath a shallow gable roof with castellated parapet.

The two-storey south porch stands between the aisle windows and contains mid-14th-century roll-moulded openings, a quadripartite ceiling vault, and ribbed and studded doors. The first floor features a 4-light window with transom. The porch is topped with a shallow gabled roof with castellated parapets and gargoyles. The original opening frame has been replaced with 18th-century wrought iron gates.

The west tower rises four stages with 3-stage angle buttresses to the lower three stages. The west door features an ogee-head with roll moulding and flanking pinnacles. Above it sits a 3-light window with Reticulated tracery. The third stage carries 2-light north and south windows beneath a decorated frieze. The fourth stage, the bell chamber, has pairs of tall 2-light openings to each face, topped by a frieze of quatrefoils and ogees. A castellated parapet and recessed spire above two tiers of lucarnes complete the tower.

Various inscribed tablets are attached to the chancel and transept walls.

Interior

The three-bay nave arcade consists of quatrefoil piers and arches with sunk moulding. Two 20th-century piers on the south side feature square demi-shafts. An additional transept arcade bay contains a 6-shafted north pier and a quatrefoil pier to the south with a foliated capital. A strainer arch spans the nave between the nave and transept arcades, featuring an inverted arch parapet with castellation, quatrefoils, circles, and lozenges in the spandrels; angel heads mark the springing points. The chancel arch is similar to the nave arcade and displays foliated capitals. A triple stepped and chamfered tower arch is only partially visible.

The chancel roof is largely mid-14th century, fitted with arch tie beams and bosses. The aisles feature similar timber roofs, while the transepts carry panelled roofs with moulded beams. A 19th-century chancel roof incorporates evidence of 14th-century vaulting to the side walls. The south wall of the chancel retains remains of triple sedilia and piscina. A 19th-century stone reredos stands below the east window, and a stone chancel screen dates to circa 1858.

A 12th-century octagonal font, probably recarved in the 18th century, is mounted on 19th-century columns. An exceptionally fine organ case on the west gallery dates to circa 1717 and is the work of Christopher Schrider; it is decorated with leaf carving, scrolls, cherubs, and open pediments.

Nineteenth-century stained glass appears in the east window, two south and one north chancel windows, two transept east windows, and one north window. A south window of 1847 may be by the maker Wailes.

Monuments include two marble tablets in the transept to Reverend James Affleck (died 1784) and his family. A black marble floor tablet in the north aisle commemorates Johannes Newcomen (died 1727). A marble tablet by John Hunt on the north aisle west wall honours William Roberts (died 1750). A marble tablet by William Cox on the south aisle west wall commemorates Sussana Payne (died 1766). The Dolben vault beneath the east end of the chancel contains two busts by John Hunt—one in a niche and one as a roundel—to Mary Dolben (died 1710) and Elizabeth Dolben (died 1736). Fourteen additional marble plaques to members of the Dolben family are visible from the vault entrance.

The belfry contains a 17th-century painted inscription on the wall.