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St Mary

St Mary

Rickinghall

Suffolk

Mid to late C14, nave rebuilt, south porch added

Architectural Features

altered mid C15.

4-stage square west tower: to west an offset to second stage with a 2-light curvilinear traceried pointed arched window with a hoodmould, third stage has quatrefoils in 3 sides, string course to belfry with louvred openings as window below, string course to C15 embattled parapet with traceried flushwork panels, 'IHS' and 'MR' monograms and varied patterns, gargoyles to north and south, pinnacles removed, 4 stage diagonal buttresses rise 3 stages with moulded plinth, offsets, a square and compass mason's mark to south west.

To south the window towards west is shorter as it was above a now demolished mortuary chapel of W. Howell, d. 1492, a blocked 4- centred arch below window, brick in walling to side of adjacent south porch, to south west on nave a diagonal buttress with brick walling at base.

Chancel is lower, narrower and shorter than nave: to east a string course below a restored 3-light C14 window with a pointed arched head, intricately cusped intersecting/curvilinear tracery, C19 hoodmould, above a small blocked cusped headed opening, 2 stage diagonal buttresses, kneelers to coped gable parapet with ridge cross

to north two 2-light C15 windows, one has rectilinear tracery in a segmental pointed arched head, the other has ogee headed lights with a squat quatrefoil in a 4-centred arched head

C15 pointed tower arch, outer continuous chamfer and 2 inner chamfers to semi-octagonal responds with moulded caps and bases, above tower arch a quatrefoil opening.

In nave to south west a blocked hollow moulded 4-centred arched headed opening to former chapel, 4-centred arched headed door to porch chamber stairs, porch roof of C15 cambered timbers.

In chancel to south a C15 piscina with an ogee headed 4 centred arched head, crocketed cusping, moulded square surround with a crenellated head, octafoil bowl, dropped sill sedilia to adjacent window.

Octagonal C14 font in nave, a step up to moulded base, plain stem, moulded underside to bowl with elaborately cusped blank tracery patterned faces.

C19 tiled floors, Communion rails, seating and pulpit, C19 brass ewer.

In tower floor a memorial to J. Browne, d. 1716, with arms in relief, on tower wall a benefactions board and 2 peal boards.

Nave window to north opposite entrance has fragments of C15 glass, chancel window to south towards east has fragments of C15 and C18 glass, chancel east window by O'Connor, 1868, chancel window to south towards west and tower west window are by Heaton, Butler and Bayne, c.1875.