Building record 266/1/1 - Church of St. Mary

St Mary's Church is mainly of late 12th and 13th century, with late Perpendicular and 19th century alterations. In 1846 the chancel, and south arcade rebuilt in original form re-using some old work. Squared coursed ironstone, lead and tile roofs. Chancel, aisled nave and clerestory. North and south porches, and west-tower. Priest's doorway on north side chancel has 13th century work re-used. Rebuilding work was completed during the 18th century. A Medieval square stone plinth is located in the churchyard, although the socket stone and alleged Saxon shaft fragment were not located.

{1} Church. Late C12 and C13, with late Perpendicular and C19 alterations. In 1846 chancel, and south arcade rebuilt in original form re-using some old work. Squared coursed ironstone, lead and tile roofs. Chancel, aisled nave and clerestory. North and south porches, and west-tower. Priest's doorway on north side chancel has C13 work re-used. C13 east window in south aisle with C19 tracery. Late Perpendicular window east of south porch with 2 arched uncusped lights and square head. C16/C17 Late Perpendicular south porch. Inner doorway C13. Window left of south porch C19. Trefoil headed lancet in west wall. C12 tower of 3 stages has plain lancet in ground stage to west, bell openings of one cusped light, that to north flanked by blind cusped arches. North aisle has plain lancet to west. 2-light Late Perpendicular window west of porch with 2 uncusped lights and square hood. C14 north porch has date plaque 1649/HH/IK probably recording a restoration. Inner doorway late C12, has chamfered round headed arch and plain jambs. 3-light square headed Perpendicular window (probably rebuilt) to east of porch. C14 three-light window with Geometrical tracery to east. Perpendicular clerestory. Interior: C13 double piscina recess in chancel has central shaft with bell capital, side shafts with stiff leaf capitals and deeply moulded trefoil arch. Triple lancets in east wall have jamb shafts with recessed C18 stiff leaf capitals. Late C12 north aisle, 3 bays, with pointed unchamfered arches, round piers and square abaci. 3-bay south arcade, rebuilt C19 using C13 work, has single chamfered arches, round piers and octagonal abaci. C13 piscina in south aisle has trefoiled niche with crocketed hood. Roofs C19. Details of church restoration in 1846 described by Sir Henry Dryden in an address to the Northamptonshire Archeological Society, 1879. Quoted in typescript guide to church. The C18 naturalist, Gilbert White was vicar of Moreton Pinkney and curate of Selbourne, in Hampshire, where he lived. (Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.307; Typescript Guide to Moreton Pinkney Church).

{8} Description of Romanesque features including north nave doorway and, internally, the north arcade of the nave and the font. The arcade capital forms and pointed arches suggest a date c.1200. The font and N doorway are not closely dateable.

{9} Undated photo;

{10} Rubbings, plans, photos, notes, measurements, drawings, sketches, sections, lithographs;

Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/25/189/118-119,130 (Archive). SNN115.

Historic England, Undated, St Mary's Church, Moreton Pinkney, BF107373 (Archive). SNN115806.

<1> Clews Architects, 1980s, Database for Listing of Historic Buildings of Special Architectural Interest: Northamptonshire, 9/135 (Digital archive). SNN102353.

<2> List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest ("Greenback"), F03 (unchecked) (Catalogue). SNN45262.

<3> Pevsner N.; Cherry B., 1973, The Buildings of England: Northamptonshire, p.307 (unchecked) (Series). SNN1320.

<4> Glynne S., 1859, Church Notes of Sir Stephen Glynne, (unchecked) (Manuscript). SNN39492.

<5> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.56 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77326.

<6> Bridges J., 1791, The History and Antiquities of Northamptonshire, p.251-52 (unchecked) (Book). SNN77325.

<7> Richmond H., 1988, Survey of Northamptonshire Parish Churches (Unpublished Report). SNN1195.

<8> King's College, London, 2017, A corpus of Romanesque Sculpture in Britain and Ireland, Site 440 (Website). SNN110894.

<9> Photographs of buildings in Moreton Pinkney (Photographs). SNN112858.

<10> Dryden H.E.L., 1842-1895, Dryden Collection, DR/189/8-10,13,14,16-22,24-94,96-117, 120-129, 131-140 (Archive). SNN115.

Record last edited

Dec 17 2024 9:02AM