St Edmund, King & Martyr

The church of St Edmund is an ancient edifice of local stone, portions of which are in the Early English style. It consists of chancel, clerestoried nave of five bays, aisles, north and south porches, south chapel and an embattled western tower with pinnacles containing a clock and 5 bells; the chancel retains sedilia.

The east window of the north aisle was erected by John Francis Mercer, in 1871, as a memorial to his parents. There are other stained windows in the south chapel and in the tower. The font was the gift of the architect, Mr Palgrave. Against the north wall of the chancel is a marble monument, with busts in bas relief, by Michael Rysbrack. They are to Bartholomew Clarke 1746 and Mary, his wife, 1768 and to Hitch Younge 1759. There are also here many tablets to the Bouverie family.

On the south side of the chapel is a very narrow altar tomb, with a recumbent effigy in freestone to Sir Stephen Harvey K.B. 1630. The sides of the tomb bear an inscription with armorial bearings, and above it is a monumental tablet, adorned with trophies. On the north side is an ancient and curious marble monument, with effigies disposed in two tiers of Stephen and Anne Harvey, and their three sons. The first tier is divided by two small Corinthian pillars into three canopied compartments, under the centre one of which is the kneeling effigy of Stephen Harvey, merchant, 1636. Under the eastern arch is the kneeling effigy of William Harvey esq 1633 and under the western arch is the similar effigy of Sir Francis Harvey kt Judge of the Common Pleas, 1632. On the tier above these are the effigies of Stephen Harvey, 1606, and Anne, his wife, 1590, kneeling before an altar. There are also various monuments of the 18th century to the Tate family.

The church was thoroughly restored in 1869, under the direction of Mr Palgrave, architect, of London. Little has changed since.

The churchyard holds the victim of the infamous Rouse murderer.