Stoke by Nayland St Mary church

St Mary

The 15th century St Mary's stands on a hilltop at the centre of a very beautiful village in Suffolk as a magnificent landmark in architectural splendour.

Stoke by Nayland, Suffolk

Opening times

The church is open daily during daylight hours.

Address

School Street
Stoke by Nayland
Suffolk
CO6 4QH

St Mary's majestic tower, reckoned to be one of the fifty finest medieval church towers in England, dominates the skyline of Dedham Vale and can be seen from miles around.

In the words of John Constable, who painted the church on a number of occasions 'The tower is the church’s grandest feature, which from its commanding height seems to impress on the surrounding country its own sacred dignity of character'. He also described the soaring and supremely elegant arch beneath it as “the crowning beauty of the interior”. There is known to have been a church on the site for over 1000 years, but today’s building is largely 15th century, in the perpendicular style. Its patron during that rebuilding was Sir John Howard, raised in the village, and right-hand man of both Edward IV and Richard III, who created him Duke of Norfolk in 1483. His coat of arms of Howard impaling Tendring may be found in several places.

Other special features of the interior include the font, clearly marked with the rose en soleil badge of Edward IV and with panels of the emblems of the four Evangelists; and the original and almost unique 15th century south doors, exquisitely carved in oak. There are a number of brasses, including those of Sir William de Tendring (d1408), which is considered to be a portrait; and of Lady Catherine Howard (d1465), first wife of Sir John, and ancestress of Queens Ann Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Elizabeth I. There are two conspicuous monuments, one to Sir Francis Mannock (d1634) of Giffords Hall in the parish; and one to Lady Anne Windsor (d1615), who left an endowment of four almshouses which are still administered by a village committee.

Regrettably it seems that all the mediaeval glass fell victim to Colonel Dowsing’s Parliamentary Commissioners in 1643, and there are other examples of Puritan vandalism to be seen.

  • Captivating architecture

  • Fascinating churchyard

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Magnificent memorials

  • National heritage here

  • Social heritage stories

  • Accessible toilets in church

  • Accessible toilets nearby

  • Dog friendly

  • Level access to the main areas

  • On street parking at church

  • Parking within 250m

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Wifi

  • Church of England

  • Cornerstone Grant, £12,000, 2022

  • Our Cornerstone Grants fund urgent repairs and essential community facilities such as toilets and kitchens to help keep churches open.

  • Cornerstone Grant, £8,000, 2022

  • Our Cornerstone Grants fund urgent repairs and essential community facilities such as toilets and kitchens to help keep churches open.

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Mary

Polstead, Suffolk

Another Suffolk church in a superb setting, St Mary's is set on a hill, away from the road, overlooking the valley of the River Box.

St James

Nayland , Suffolk

Built around 1400 and seats about 250 people, and famous for being the location of John Constable’s best altar piece 'Christ blesses the bread and wine'.

St Matthew

Leavenheath, Suffolk

The church is notable for its collection of seven rare WWI wooden battlefield crosses, gifted to the families when replaced by permanent stone memorials.