St Mary

The chancel is probably C14 in origin.

The N and S aisles have large C14 Decorated E windows, and the N and S doors are early C14 with two chamfered orders, that on the N with a hood mould

it possible that these were all reset in the C15 as the arcades inside are of that date.

The 2-bay N and S nave arcades are C15 and have chamfered inner orders on polygonal shafts with moulded capitals and continuous outer orders.

The king-post roof in the chancel is late C15.

That on the S is probably largely medieval, that on the N is C20.

The chancel has some encaustic tiles and incorporates two C17 floor slabs.

The N door has wide battens and ornamental hinges and straps dated by Pevsner to the C11 with additions of the C12.

Very fine and well preserved fragment of a late medieval Doom painting found behind the nave ceiling in 1977, and subsequently conserved.

The top of Christ¿s head and halo are visible, as are the heads of angels carrying the nail and the spear from the Instruments of the Passion.

An unusual wooden war memorial for WWI, with a carved ogee top and an inscription recording that it was 'executed and erected by a parishioner' in 1920.

HISTORY Buttsbury the place is in the Domesday book of 1086, but the church is not mentioned, although it was not uncommon for churches to be omitted.

The approximately 1 ½ square plan of the nave without the aisles may suggest an Anglo-Saxon origin for the church.

The apparently C11

C12 ornamental metalwork on the N door is also evidence of a church of this date on the site.

The church may have Anglo-Saxon origins, with the core of the nave and the metalwork on the door of that date.

The chancel and aisles may be C14 in origin

the whole was remodelled in the C15 when the present arcades were built and the nave and chancel reroofed.

SOURCES Bettley, J and Pevsner, N., Buildings of England: Essex , 190-1 Brown, K. The Mysteries of Buttsbury RCHME: Essex IV , 20 REASONS FOR DESIGNATION: The church of St Mary, Buttsbury, Stock, Essex is designated at Grade II* for the following principal reasons: * Good surviving medieval fabric, including C15 nave arcades and C14 doors and windows. * Unusual plan of considerable width. * The nave and chancel roofs are excellent survivals of the C15. * Unusual survival of C18 or early C19 churchwardens¿ Gothic work including W tower

nave and chancel windows, creating a highly picturesque, multi-phased effect. ¿ Important early metal work, probably of the C11 or C12 on the N door.

This List entry has been amended to add sources for War Memorials Online and the War Memorials Register.