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St Mary

St Mary

Hopesay

Shropshire

Early C13, restored c.1880.

Architectural Features

machine tile roofs, those to chancel and organ chamber with coped verges on carved stone kneelers.

Tower: low and squat and heavily buttressed, those to south-east and north-west angles probably original, south-west C14 or C15

remainder C17 or later.

C17 double-pyramidal top (c.f. Clun and More): roughcast belfry with paired louvred openings on north, south and west

Nave: south side has broad cusped C19 lancet to west, followed by mid-C14 window (restored) of two cusped lights with elongated quatrefoil above.

Gabled porch may be C17 but heavily restored in C19.

Tudor arch to outer tie beam but rest of roof structure looks C19: rubblestone outer walls may replace timber frame.

two early C19 memorials fixed to east wall.

Late C12 round-headed south doorway has one order of shafts and roll moulding over plain tympanum

Nail-studded plank door, probably C17.

Late C12 or early C13 lancet to west with C19 broad cusped lancet above to right.

Late C12 single-chamfered round-headed doorway with contemporary lancet above-and another taller lancet to right.

3-light C19 east window with reticulated tracery has medieval hoodmould and head-stops.

Two lancets of c.1200 in north wall.

INTERIOR: main feature of interest is late C15 moulded arch-braced collar beam roof in six bays to nave.

Double-chamfered segmental-pointed chancel arch with semi-circular responds and moulded capitals and bases probably c.1200.

Pointed doorway to tower and C13 pointed piscina in chancel.

Mid-C19 gallery at west end has cast-iron column to north end but retains wooden board from C17 predecessor with superscription "BUILTE AT THE CHARGE OF EDWARD BLOOME ESQ ANNO DNI 1631".

C19 pews incorporate C17 panelling (some decorative with a variety of floral and geometric motifs and dragon-like figures) from former box pews - also used to wainscot panelling and choir stalls.

Priest's door probably medieval on inside and dug-out chest by south door has C13 iron-work.

Wooden pulpit 1897 and richly carved late C19 octagonal font

Stained glass: fragments of late C14 stained glass in quatrefoil of second window from west in nave south wall including coat-of-arms of Richard Fitzalan, Earl of Arundel.

late C19 and early C20 glass in nave.

MONUMENTS: most notable is to Whitehall Harris , painted oval-shaped stone with armorial device - south side of chancel arch.

Plain mid-to late C18 memorials in chancel and mid-C19 tablets in nave.