Description

SP 91 SW PITSTONE CHURCH ROAD

6/146 Church of St. Mary

18.10.66

- I

Parish church, now redundant. Mid C13 chancel and N. chapel, late C13
aisles, altered C15 when W. tower and N. vestry were added, C14 S. porch
rebuilt C19, all much restored C19 and C20. Dressed limestone and flint,
upper part of nave walls and N. aisle roughcast, C19 brick repairs to
chancel, lead roofs. W. tower of 2 stages has plinth, battlemented
parapet, diagonal buttresses, and 2-light traceried openings to bell-chamber,
except to south which has paired lancets. Arched door with Tudor hoodmould
to W., 3-light cusped window with 4-centred head above. Semi-octagonal stair
turret at N.E. corner. S. wall of nave, formerly aisle, has plain
parapet, 2 3-light cusped windows with 4-centred heads, slight projection
at E. end for rood-loft stairs, and door in 2-centred arch. S. porch also
has plain parapet and plinth, double chamfered arch, and C15 roof with
moulded cross beams. N. aisle has off-set buttresses, 2 lancet windows
and door in moulded arch with hoodmould. N. chapel has plain parapet,
2 Perpendicular windows, and cusped lancet to vestry at E. end. Decorated
chancel has battlemented brick parapet with stone coping, 3-light traceried
E. window, and 3 2-light traceried windows to south. Interior: double
hollow-chamfered tower arch, the inner order on moulded corbels. Wide nave
incorporating former S. aisle. S. wall has stoup by door, and 4-centred arched
openings to rood-loft stairs; E. wall has blind arched panel and squint to
chancel. 3-bay N. arcade of double hollow-chamfered arches on octagonal
piers with moulded caps, the N.E. pier with altered niche. Aisle and
nave have restored C15 roofs with moulded cross beams. Double chamfered
arch from aisle to N. chapel. Similar chancel arch on semi-octagonal
piers with simply moulded caps. 2 more similar arches, but with stiff-leaf
capitals, between chancel and chapel. Chancel also has moulded arched
doorway to N. vestry, semi-octagonal stone shafts flanking alter, and
C14-C15 floor tiles. N. chapel has cusped piscina with carved crocketted
gable, locker recess in N. wall, and C19 grate in N.E. corner. Fittings:
fine C12 font with fluted bowl and stem, cable ornament below bowl, and frieze
of flower motifs; very good early C17 hexagonal pulpit with enriched panels,
side scrolls and sounding board; C17 pews, including 2 box pews with panelled
sides; C17 altar table; large triangular reading desk dated 1685; fine C18
communion rails with delicate twisted balusters; painted panels of creed
and commandments over chance? arch; C19 glass in E. window. Small C14
brass of lady.
RCHM II p.236-8.

Listing NGR: SP9422914936

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• St Mary's Church, Pitstone at Wikipedia
• St Mary's Church, Pitstone official website
• Wikidata Q7594403

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

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  Oxfordshire: North and West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)