"Parish Church of St. Mary stands in the village. The walls are of mixed rubble, with much pudding-stone; the dressings are of limestone and brick, and the roofs are tiled. The W. bay of the Nave is of early to mid 14th-century date. The West Tower and the South Porch were added late in the 15th century. The rest of the church, including Chancel, Chapels, Nave and side Aisles, was entirely rebuilt in 1885.
The S. porch is a good example of the period, and among the fittings the S. door is noteworthy.
Architectural Description—The Nave (53 ft. by 21 ft.) is modern except for the W. bay, which has on each side a mid 14th-century window of three trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in an obtuse two-centred head with a moulded label and head-stops; one stop on the N. is modern.
The South Aisle is modern, but reset in the S. wall is a late 15th-century doorway with moulded and shafted jambs and two-centred arch, enriched with carved heads and foliage; the arch has a square head with a moulded label and spandrels carved with mutilated figures of Adam and Eve and a background of foliage.
The West Tower (15¼ ft. by 12¼ ft.) is of late 15th-century date and of three stages, with a moulded plinth of flint-inlaid work and a modern parapet. The two-centred tower-arch is of two moulded orders, the outer continuous and the inner resting on much restored semi-octagonal shafts, with moulded capitals and bases. The W. window is of three trefoiled ogee lights, with vertical tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label; the cusp points are foliated; the partly restored W. doorway has a moulded two-centred head with moulded labels and defaced head-stops. The second stage has in each wall a window of one cinquefoiled light; the external reveals of those in the N., S. and W. walls are of brick. The bell-chamber has in each wall a much restored window of two trefoiled ogee lights with tracery in a two-centred head with a moulded label.
The South Porch is of late 15th-century date and has a moulded plinth and embattled parapet, both with flint-inlaid panels; the diagonal buttresses have stone panels with traceried heads to each stage, and are finished with octagonal shafts with embattled capitals, supporting seated figures of beasts. The S. front is of two stages and is entirely covered with flint-inlay in panels; at the top of the lower stage runs the name Maria in black letter, and at the base of the upper stage is a row of chalices and hosts in stone; below these is an ashlar band with the black-lettter inscription, "Orate p animabus Johis Hute at y~ wode et Alicie uxoris ejus Johis Hute Willi Hute." The outer archway is two-centred and is of two moulded orders, the outer continuous and the inner resting on attached shafts with moulded capitals and bases; the arch has a square head with double moulded labels, stopped with crowned lions on foliated brackets and spandrels carved with figures of St. George and the Dragon. Above the arch are three niches with buttressed jambs and elaborate traceried and crocketed canopies; the pedestals have each a half-angel issuing from clouds. The side walls of the porch have each a window of three cinquefoiled lights, with embattled tracery in a segmental-pointed head with a moulded label.
The Roof of the porch is of late 15th-century date, partly restored, and has moulded and braced principals, forming four-centred arches, moulded ridge and wall-plates.
Fittings—Bells: eight; 3rd by John Darbie, 1676; 4th by the same founder, 1675; 6th by Charles Newman, 1689; 8th probably by Robert Burford, early 15th-century, and inscribed "Sum Rosa Pulsata Mundi Maria Vocata." Door: In S. doorway—of two folds, each with three panels with elaborately traceried heads, moulded bars, late 15th-century, partly restored, old pierced scutcheon-plate. Monument: In S. porch—on S. wall, internally, to Barbara, wife of Henry Lufkin, 1706, and to Henry Lufkin, 1721, wooden 'marbled' tablet with side pilasters and broken curved pediment. Niches: In S. chapel— in E. wall, but formerly in E. wall of old S. aisle, with moulded and buttressed jambs and defaced vaulted canopy with rosette bosses, remains of colour, late 15th-century. In S. porch—over S. doorway, with buttressed jambs and ogee cinquefoiled canopy with crocketed label, late 15th-century, much defaced. Plate: includes cup and cover-paten, the former dated 1584 and both with bands of engraved ornament. Recess: In tower—in S. wall, small niche with triangular head of brick, late 15th-century. Screen: Between chancel and nave—base of screen with moulded rail and two bays on each side doorway, flanked and divided by restored buttresses, each bay with two open panels with septfoiled ogee heads and tracery with spandrels richly carved with foliage, dragons, grotesque heads, etc., late 15th-century, partly restored. Stoup: In S. porch—with moulded jambs and cinquefoiled head, bowl cut away, late 15th-century."
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