The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary dates back to the C12th with later additions including a south aisle in the C14th and a chancel and tower in the C15th, making this an unusual mix of styles and many architectural puzzles.

Like all Anglican Churches, St Mary’s is subject to an ongoing cycle of maintenance and repair under a programme of Quinquennial inspection and Faculty approval. The current restoration works began in 1990 and so far, the tower and all roofs have been replaced and the church completed rewired.

In recent years Masefields have been appointed to assist with the sensitive installation of tea making facilities and internal redecoration with lime wash in the Nave.

The more recent repairs have been focussed on the Tower parapets, two of which were leaning and had been undercut by weather and erosion.

Along with structural engineer Clive Haywood, a sequence of dismantling the merlons and storing them in the tower roof was agreed, enabling Masefields to provide detailed specification for the reinstatement works and obtaining approval for the works from the Diocese.