Details
EAST WORLINGTON WEST WORLINGTON
SS 71 SE
8/33 Church of St Mary
20.2.67
GV I
Anglican parish church. Predominantly C15, though tower C13 and chancel partly C14;
C19 restoration. Coursed local rubble, coursed and squared to the tower, some
Bathstone dressings; continuous gabled slated nave and chancel roof, clay ridge
tiles, aisle with gabled roof with lead ridge, slate roof to porch with clay ridge,
timber twisted broach spire to tower clad with shingles, restored 1908, lead
capping, weathercock.
Plan: nave, chancel, south aisle, south porch, west tower. Perpendicular style.
Exterior: big broad squat tower with large quoins to west, 3-light west window with
a stilted arch head, centre light reaching up to the apex, the flanking lights
terminating lower down, label which continues as a weathered drip right around the
tower; pointed-arch west doorway with 2 orders of cavetto mouldings, studded plank
door; Spire restored after lightening strike, but retains some of its early
structure. Nave with two 2-light trefoiled square-headed windows to the north,
labels; similar window on north side of chancel, this appears replaced C19. 3-bayed
aisle with 2-stage buttresses with offsets, fine-traceried 3-light Perpendicular
windows. Small gabled porch, very plain outer door opening, inside slate floor,
wooden bench to each side on a rubble base, C15 waggon roof with moulded ribs,
bosses replaced C19, leaf frieze to wallplate, part original, part recarved; moulded
Perpendicular inner door opening, C19 plank door, medieval style iron hinges. C13
style east window of 3 lights with intersecting tracery (replacing an earlier window
of the same style?)
Interior: plaster removed from walls except the chancel. Slate floors, except
chancel with Victorian High Gothic encaustic tile pavement. Simple double-chamfered
tower arch, probably C15. No chancel arch. 3-bay arcade to aisle with Pevsner's B-
type piers with standard Devon capitals with angel figures, a mask, and blank
shields as well as the usual leaf decoration. Aisle with C15 waggon roof, the same
style as in the porch, moulded ribs, bosses (to centre with the Virgin and Child
painted) cornice with a leaf frieze. C16 waggon roof to nave, restored C19, moulded
ribs, painted bosses, wallplate with a pierced frieze. Ceiled C19 waggon roof in
chancel. Good set of carved C16 bench ends, geometrical patterns, tracery and
floral carving in relief, some C19 copies. Seat in aisle with back of Cl7
panelling; fielded pine dado panelling to north wall of nave and south wall of
aisle. Good traceried parclose screen with Pevsner's A-type tracery. C14 piscina
to chancel. Victorian High Gothic pulpit, lectern, altar rails and altar table.
Wall monument to Thomas Stucle of 1663, with flanking Corinthian columns, pediment,
strapwork ornament, cherubs and achievement, coloured and guilded. Late C19 wall
monument. Painted plaque over south door: "John Cook Warden 1726". Georgian Royal
Arms. Much old glass to windows, probably C18, clear panes with irregular canes.
Fragments of medieval stained glass to top lights of west window of south aisle.
Stained glass window to chancel dated 1890, window to aisle dated 1908. Under tower
parish chest dated 1690, early C19 strong box, and charity plaque dated 1835. C15
ring-chamber floor, moulded ribs, framed in 6 panels.
Listing NGR: SS7699413487
