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St Mary

Architectural Features

Plain chancel parapet has large winged gargoyles, and above the east window is a head of William of Wykeham and the arms of New College

Rubble transepts retain C13 clasping buttresses and moulded strings, but have large 4-light C13 windows with restored geometrical tracery

both have tall C15 paired clerestory windows, arched on the south transept and square-headed on the north

C14 aisles, with 3- and 4-light Decorated windows with restored geometrical and flowing tracery, have remarkable carved friezes below the parapets, depicting grotesque faces, animals and musicians

C14 porches have simpler friezes and wave-moulded entrance arches

Nave clerestory has 3-light C15 windows with pointed-segmental arches

Early-C14 tower, of 4 unequal stages with diagonal buttresses, has a wave-moulded west door below a 3-light window with intersecting uncusped tracery, and has similar openings in the tall bell-chamber stage

The late-C14 pierced trefoil parapet rises from a further elaborate frieze and has winged corner gargoyles

Interior: chancel retains fine carved corbels and head-stops of bishops and kings, and has a restored 3-seat sedilia, piscina and reredos of great elaboration and quality

the C19 figures flanking the east window stand in tall C15 niches with superb pinnacled and crocketed canopies

Chancel roof is Cl9 in C15 style

Tall chancel arch is C14, but 4-bay nave arcades are C13, though possibly altered in C14

Both transepts retain C13 blind arcading with detached shafts, plus the splays of several lancets built up in C14

north transept has a C13 aumbry with a cusped head

2-bay late-C14 arcades opening from transepts to aisles have slender moulded columns, set diagonally, and capitals with male and female heads, some linking arms as at Bloxham and Hanwell Churches (q.v.). Both aisles have a tomb recess, that to north probably a restoration

C15 roof of nave has 8 king-post trusses with cusped and moulded arched braces rising from wall posts, and with further cusped bracing extending in 4 directions from the kingposts

Panelled font in Perpendicular style of 1831 by John Plowman

Oak fittings are C19 except for a fine traceried C15 rood screen, restored and given an elaborate roof loft by Gilbert Scott, and some C17 panelling in the transepts from former box pews

Chancel fittings include return stalls with misericord seats, and an organ case by Gilbert Scott

Monuments include a brass to Jane Smith (d.1508) and a painted wooden memorial to Thomas More (d,1586). Stained glass includes armorial glass of 1834 by Willement