History of St Mary the Virgin Church
St Mary’s is a picturesque country church dating back to Norman times.
The actual date of its construction is not known however it isrecorded that the patronage of St Mary’s went with the Manor and was included in the donation of the Manor from William, Earl of Mortain, to the Abbey of Grestain in 1189.
As is inevitable with such an old buildings the church has been changed through the ages and much of the surviving building is in the Decorated style (c.1290-c.1350), the north aisle dates from the early 13th century and the tower from the 15th century. The exterior of the tower has a polygonal turret staircase.
An unusual event took place in the church on the 14th May 2005 when a
Consistory Court Hearing took place. The PCC had requested permission
from the Council for the Care of Churches to sell the remains of a
wooden screen depicting ‘The Passion of Christ’. The funds were required
to carry out long outstanding maintenance work in this ancient building.
The Council refused the request the PCC then asked for a court hearing
to take place. The judgement of the court was found in favour of the
PCC. The church also contains many interesting monuments in memory of the FitzRoys, descended from Charles II.
There is a fine east window in memory of The Rev. Barwick John Sams, rector for 47 years, and fragments of mediaeval glass in one of the south windows.
Outside, the churchyard is a peaceful haven. Snowdrops and aconites abound in winter,and are quickly followed by violets and primroses.
Sir John Woodville
Woodvilles living in Northamptonshire can be traced back to the reign of Henry II. Of most interest in St Mary’s is Sir John Woodville, who rose to the rank of Sheriff of Northampton and who built the tower at the west end of the church.
Sir John was great grandfather to Elizabeth Woodville who secretly married Edward IV in Grafton on 1st May 1464.
The altar tomb of freestone to the memory of John Woodville is St Mary’s most important monument. Deeply incised in the alabaster top is the figure of a man in full armour, his head resting on a crested great helmet supported by two angels, and with his feet against a lion.
The marginal inscription to the slab is in Latin and, translated, reads:
Under the mercy of God, this stone covers under itself John Wydeville, who made the belltower; have mercy. O God, and as you have mercy grant help, O my God, and your Mother as well. Amen
The adjacent altar tomb, also in the Gothic style, although without any inscription, appears to be of a similar age and is likely to be of another member of the Woodville family.
Monuments to members of the FitzRoy family.
St Mary’s Church contains many monuments erected in memory of the FitzRoys descended from Henry FitzRoy, son of Charles II by his mistress, Barbara Villiers. Monuments to those whose names are in blue in the family tree may be found in the church or churchyard.
The marble monument to Charlotte Maria, Countess of Euston, was created by the renowned sculptor, John Flaxman. It carries the inscription:
"To the memory of Charlotte Maria Countess of Euston, second daughter of James Earl of Waldegrave Born Oct.11th 1761 Buried in this church February 8th. 1808, whose virtue rendered her the object of the tenderest affection during life,and affords the most consoling hopes of her eternal happiness to her surviving husband, by whom this monument is erected
Family Tree identifying FitrRoy memorials in St Mary's Church
As well as memorials to the FitzRoys, there are several memorials to the Sams family in St Mary’s. The east window is dedicated to the remarkable Barwick John Sams, born 1803 and died 1885.
In the chancel a brass plate has been placed in memory of his son. It is inscribed:
"In loving memory of Charles Dawson Sams, R.N.R. aged 41 years who was lost whilst in command of the “Bokhara” which was wrecked off the coast of the Pescadores on the 10th Oct. 1892 And there was no more sea. Rev 21"
Inside St Mary’s
The east window in Munich glass is dedicated to Barwick John Sams, rector from 1837 until his death in 1885.
The east window was restored and fitted with a blaze of stained glass made in Munich depicting scenes from the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats.
An ancient tub-shaped Norman font stands at the west end of the Nave.
The Church Tower
On the way up the narrow staircase, carved in a window opening, is a curious face, a mason’s doodle?
Carved into the lead roofing to the tower are yet more doodles adding interestingly to the history of St Mary’s.
Images on the Outside walls of the church
Two of the nine Mass dials on the South wall of the church
