Article by Marje Caie

The external walls of the nave and aisle date from the 14th century and in 1460 a general re-modelling of the church took place which included re-roofing the church, the building of the chancel and the erection of the north and south porches.

The 15th century tower is one of a superb group to be found in this area. It now holds the six newly-hung bells which were restored and replaced in the restored bellchamber in 1982. One of the bells, the tenor, is over 500 years old. The tower has a western doorway over which is a quaint stone hood forming a shallow porch.

St Mary’s from the east

The north porch is richly vaulted within, and is surmounted externally by a panelled and battlemented parapet. On the cornice beneath are a number of grotesques to carry off the roof water : two at each side. A much-worn stoup for holy water is against the inner doorway. The door itself is the original one and still retains a large handle and escutcheon of the original ironwork. The key is a foot long.

The south doorway is an early example of Early English work and has a curious canopied niche over the apex with flanking buttresses in which are carved two small human figures.

The priest’s door is in the north wall of the chancel chapel, as the rectory is on this side of the church, and has over it externally a curious little projecting hood. Above the chancel arch is a picturesque stone sanctus bell-turret with panelled sides surmounted by a short broach spirelet with foliated finial. The ceiled wagon roof is tiled in Cotswold stone.

CHURCH LISTING RECORD

The Church is Grade I listed, and some of the memorials in the Churchyard are Grade II. Please click for the listing record for the Church building, and the listing record for the Memorials.

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St Mary’s Church

Inside the Church

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