Church of Saint Mary

This is a small, double-nave parish church, likely dating to the 15th century, constructed of rubble stone with slate roofs. The roofs were restored around 1994, using Pembrokeshire grey-green slates on the outer pitches. The church has no chancel. A small bellcote sits on the north nave, projecting on three large corbels, each stepped out in three steps and set below the apex. The bellcote is slightly offset to the left and has a plain rectangular bell-opening with a slab lintel and a gable topped with a 19th-century cross finial.

The west end of the nave features a blocked round-arched doorway, with long jamb stones and an arch formed of two stones, chamfered with diagonal stop. To the south, a renewed sandstone two-light window with a flat head, hoodmould, and pointed lights punctuates the south nave. The south side also has 19th-century Bath stone windows flanking a round-arched, chamfered doorway made of large sandstone pieces, similar to the blocked west doorway. A 19th-century boarded door leads into a timber gabled porch which sits on stone base walls. The south nave’s windows are three-light with pointed heads to their lights. The east end of the south nave has a renewed sandstone two-light window with a flat head and hoodmould. The east end of the north nave projects slightly beyond, featuring a Bath stone three-light window with a hoodmould. The north side includes 19th-century Bath stone two- and four-light windows, similar to those on the south, with a broad low buttress between them.

The interiors have plastered walls and 1886 scissor rafter roofs, with the exception of a pointed boarded roof with moulded ribs over the east end of the nave, intended to delineate the former chancel area. Corbelling is visible under the bellcote at the west end of the nave. 19th-century reveals frame the windows. A single step leads to the chancel and sanctuary. A broad cambered arch with stone voussoirs spans the north side of the chancel, leading into a shallow recess. A 15th-century arcade, consisting of three bays, separates the nave and the south aisle, featuring rubble stone piers and pointed arches, all chamfered without imposts. Two corbels are cemented over the central arch. The south aisle includes a vestry area at its east end, flagged with slate.

The church fittings include a possible 14th-century, irregular pentagonal bowl, chamfered beneath, standing on a 19th-century round column and round base; the base being a reused element. Pine pews and stalls, dating from 1886, are also present. An 1886 octagonal pine pulpit, with pierced sexfoils and diagonal boarding, rests on a tiny ashlar round pedestal. Iron rails, made in 1886 by Gardiner of Bristol, enhance the pulpit. Floor tiles were supplied by Maw & Co. Stained glass in the east window depicts the Ascension by Alexander Gibbs, commissioned for G. Harries of Longridge. A two-light window on the north side, dedicated to H. R. Warlow (died 1996), was created by Reverend Arthur Clark, former vicar of Bletherston, based on a design by Nan Warlow, Warlow’s daughter. Several memorials are also present, including a fine memorial slab with a winged angel head dedicated to Laurence Colby (died 1738), a painted slate memorial to John Colby (died 1751), and a fine slate memorial in an early 18th-century style to J. V. Colby of Ffynone (died 1919).