Church Of Saint Mary

The Church of St Mary is a church with significant development spanning the 12th century, the late 14th century, the 16th century, and the 19th century. It is constructed of sandstone, with coursed squared stone and ashlar detailing, and has lead roofs. The church comprises a west tower, an aisled nave with a south porch and a north transept, and a chancel with a north chapel.

The west tower is four-stage, incorporating elements from the 12th and late 14th centuries. It has a first-floor band, an arched single-light window, and a second-floor band. The arched belfry window features two round-arched lights with a central colonnette set back. A corbel table supports pinnacles at the corners. The fourth stage is octagonal with broaches and offset diagonal buttresses. It has four two-light cusped-arched windows with hood-moulds, a band, and an embattled parapet with pinnacles. A tall stone spire tops the tower. The west door, set within a 12th-century doorway, has two orders of colonnettes, scalloped capitals, and an arch with rolls.

The nave, which has five bays, features 19th-century two- and three-light arched cusped windows with hood-moulds. A vaulted porch of the 16th century has an arched doorway with a hood-mould and offset diagonal buttresses with pinnacles. Chamfered coping is surmounted by a small central gablet with a cross. The bays feature offset angle buttresses, and a plain parapet runs along the roofline. The clerestory is late 14th century and is topped with an embattled parapet and a gable cross. The north aisle has a transept at its east end with offset angle buttresses. At the west end, an arched chamfered doorway is located to the left of an offset angle buttress. The chancel, dating to the 14th century, has three bays with offset angle buttresses and windows similar to those in the nave. The central bay has an arched priest’s door with a hood-mould beneath the window. A plain parapet tops the chancel, and it also has a gable cross.

Inside the church, the tower arch is single-stepped and from the 12th century, set upon plain imposts. The arcades are Perpendicular and were restored in the 19th century. The south arcade consists of five bays, and the north arcade of six bays, with octagonal piers and plain moulded capitals. A similar arcade is found in the north chapel. The chancel arch is wide and plain, likely dating to the 19th century. Above the chancel arch is a late 18th- to early 19th-century painting in a Gothick frame with gilded panels containing an angel with a scroll on clouds, painted in the style of Reynolds. A fine monument to Sir Marmaduke Wyvill and his wife of Low Burton Hall, dated 1613, is also present. It is crafted from alabaster, depicting two reclining effigies with heads propped on elbows, accompanied by kneeling figures of small children. The monument includes columns, a shallow arch, a strapwork cartouche to the back, and a strapwork achievement at the top, with original iron railings. A brass memorial plate commemorates Christopher Kay (d. 1689) and Jane Nicholson (d. 1690). A monument to Abstrupus Danby (1737), made of grey and white marble, features a reredos-like design with unfluted Ionic columns, a broken pediment, and a fine bust in the centre.