St Mary The Virgin

INTERIOR: The door from the porch into the church has a Tudor arch with hood-mould over, with carved decoration in the spandrels

The nave roof is decorated with carved angels and bosses

In the south wall are three stained glass windows dated 1898 in the style of Edward Burne-Jones

To the north of the altar is a floor brass memorial to Thomas Reynes and his wife, immediately above which is a squint between the vestry and chancel

To the south of the chancel is a small chapel separated from the south aisle by a late C15 screen with delicate tracery to the heads of panels and openings

On the north wall is a wall painting of a text from the First Book of Samuel, and a painting of the Snagge family arms

The east wall of the north aisle has part of dado of a former rood screen, with four painted panels of prophets

The stone font, in the centre towards the west end of the nave, is octagonal with carved panels

HISTORY: The chancel contains the earliest fabric in the church, and dates to the early C14

In the mid C15 the nave was built, and the chancel altered, probably by Thomas Reynes, son of Jane, the last of the Morteyne family who had held the manor of Marston since the late C11

The Morteyne family may be associated with the scheduled C14 moated site and Grade II* listed Moat Farm to the north west

The manor passed to the Snagge family in the C16 or C17, and both the Reynes and Snagges are represented in the church by memorials and coats of arms

The Rector's daughter, Elizabeth Tylecote, was responsible for painting the reredos, and for repainting the ceiling bosses, shields and angels SOURCES: Kempton, J, The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Marston Morteyne, Guide Book (2004)