Church Of St Mary The Virgin

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a church dating back to the 12th century, with further development in the 13th century. A chancel was added in 1891 by J.P. St. Aubyn. The church is constructed of squared coursed and regular coursed lias and limestone with ashlar dressings, and has a plain tile roof. It consists of a nave, chancel, and a west tower. The chancel has a single range of double lancet windows, a triple lancet east window with a small lancet above, and lean-to projections to the north and south, featuring single lancets to the south. The north and south elevations of the nave have three windows; the right-hand window is a two-light window with cusped tracery. Some sections of the south wall show herringbone coursing. A gabled porch, likely from the 15th century, sits between the lancets and possesses a double chamfered arch with a four-centred head, banded limestone and lias, and ashlar parapets and a finial. A small heraldic device is located above the door. The inner door into the nave is a 12th-century round arch with no responds. The north side of the nave mirrors the south, with a gabled vestry projection featuring a three-light window with a four-centred head. The west tower, dating to the 13th century, has three stages, each set back. A small pointed-head west door is accompanied by a two-light square-headed window above, which incorporates an armorial plaque, likely from the early 18th century. Clasping buttresses mark the first stage, with nook shafts at the angles of the second stage. Single lancets are positioned on the north, south, and west faces. Around 1705, two-light bell chamber openings were added to each face, bearing inscriptions above the north and south openings. The parapet is plain, with a carved plaque on the south face. Inside, the chancel features double chamfered arches dating to 1891 to the north and south projections. A 13th-century double chamfered chancel arch and tower arch are also present. All nave windows have shafts. The vestry contains a 12th-century door opening similar to the south door. Stained glass by Kempe, dating from 1892 to 1906, is found in the east window and all nave windows. A monument to Catherine Lady Gorges, erected in 1634, is located in the north chancel projection, and includes two recumbent effigies with kneeling figures at the head and feet, likely reset, set beneath a shallow coffered arch with a cartouche and strapwork. A double broken pediment is supported on detached columns. A cartouche commemorating the Haselwood family, erected in 1695 by Elizabeth Viscountess Hatton (likely by William Stanton), is on the north wall of the nave. A plain tablet honoring Ayshford Haselwood (died 1675) is on the south wall. Several other 18th-century white marble tablets are also present. An 18th-century baluster font and two double pews with canopies are at the rear of the nave in St. Catherine Draughton.