St Mary

Mid C12 nave with C12 and C19 west front with plinth and flanking pilaster buttresses.

Steps lead up to partially restored central C12 doorway of 4 orders with inner rectangular jambs and 3 shafts on each side, the central shafts with chevron decoration.

Early C15 pointed niche with cusping, to north.

2 pointed C19 lights above set in C19 rubble filling large C14 opening.

C12 flat string course above and upper oculus.

Above vestry, C12 round headed window with C12 stair turret to east, removed in C19 from original position against the north-west jamb of interior crossing arch.

Turret with C19 string course, quoins and pyramidal slate roof, and 4 Anglo Saxon round, and round headed lights re-set on north and west sides.

SK8882 : Stow, St. Mary's Church: The Anglo Saxon doorway in the north transept

© Michael Garlick

North transept lower levels of c,1034-49, and upper levels of 1090.

West side of north transept with tall, pointed mid C13 window of 2 pointed lights with quatrefoil above and hood mould.

C12 oculus above.

East side with tall, poointed mid C13 window of 2 pointed lights with quatrefoil above and hood mould.

In corner of chancel and transept projects corner of C11 chancel bonded into transept wall, with slab quoins.

North side of later C12 chancel with clear masonry break from Cll work.

In corner of chancel and transept projects corner of C11 chancel with slab quoins

bonded into transept wall and with clean masonry break from C12 chancel.

Lower levels of south transept of c.1034-49, and upper levels of cl090.

Mid C13 window to south, of 2 lights with quatrefoil and hood mould.

Tall early C13 window to west of 2 pointed lights with plate traceried quatrefoil and hood mould.

C12 oculus above.

West side of south transept with single small narrow C12 window with round head and hood mould with small monster head label stops.

South side of- nave with 3 pilaster buttresses, that to east masking join with C11 transept.

Large mid C12 doorway partially restored in C19.

C11 stone coffin against wall to east.

Early C15 crossing tower on C11 foundations.

C11 round light re-set in this position on north side.

Moulded eaves above with corner gargoyles and gargoyles in centre of each face.

Battlements above with ornate corner pinnacles and standing figures of 4 Evangelists in centre of each face.

Nave interior with pointed north doorway, plank doors and C17 lintel.

Large crossing 35 foot square, masonry up to impost level of c.1034-49

heads of crossing arches and above of c.1090.

Inner face of crossing with C12 pointed, moulded arches supported on C12 massive polygonal piers on tall, chamfered stepped plinths inserted into Cll corners of crossing.

North transept with narrow west doorway of c.1034-49, leading into C20 vestry, with non-radial voussoirs, chamfered imposts and long and short quoins running through thickness of wall.

East wall of north transept with ornate niche heavily restored in C19, containing remnant of early C13 wall painting of the murder of Thomas Becket, consisting of bishop's robes.

To east of outer north transept arch rectangular opening inserted with steps leading to rood screen no longer extant.

Nave with C17 tie beam roof inscribed 1685.

Monument on south wall of nave to Thomas Holbeach, died 1591, of stone with coat of arms and scrolls.

C17 polygonal pulpit with decorative panels restored in 1877.

6 pews with C14 bench ends with cusped tracery and flower heads.

C15 octagonal stone font, each side with single motif

The font dates to the thirteenth century and is remarkable in that it is decorated in Pagan symbology, of which includes a pentangle, a green man, and a serpent.

© Brian Deegan

a green man

2 C16 chests in nave.

Ornate C16 chest in north transept and fragment of base of small shaft.

C14 lectern in south transept with cusped tracery, flower heads and ornate finials.

Highly ornate C17 chair with arms and back decorated with daisy heads and swirling leaves.

C14 fragmentary tombstone with ornate cross inscribed and other ornate fragments.

Monument on north-east pier of crossing of metal, to Richard Burgh, died c1616.

2 coffin lids in chancel floor, probably C13, both with faces and hands clasped in prayer viewed through round openings.

One of major examples of Anglo Saxon architecture in the country.