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Victorian decorative genius.

St Mary’s is a Commissioners Church dating from 1839.

Founded as a monastic community in 654AD, the cathedral became one of the most significant medieval abbeys in the country, the burial place of two queens and the scene of Civil War upheavals.

This impressive stone built church perches atop War Hill, the site of a battle between invading Normans and the local Saxons, it is believed that those killed were buried here and a place of worship established.

St Mary's looks like two, or even three, churches magicked together, with its rather grand chancel and an exceptional east window that is often cited as an example of Decorated window tracery at its finest.

Built by Act of Parliament, a 1814, galleried Georgian interior with vault supported on cast iron pillars, and Victorian chancel with 1920 rood screen war memorial.

The Church is striking for its vast scale and interior height, it retains good quality late 19th century fittings and also retains a Caen stone Gothic high altar and reredos along with panelled stone communion rails with iron gates in situ.

A pure unaltered 13th century Early English church with broached spire.