St Mary the Virgin
Ivinghoe, Buckinghamshire
Essentially, St Mary's is a building of the 13th century, though the tower and the great arches supporting it are 14th century, inserted into the earlier building.
The church, a grade II* listed building, dates probably from the 1130s with evidence of rebuilding in the 14th century when the current Gothic arch replaced the Norman one.
In the 15th century the church was enlarged, the nave walls raised and windows inserted into the chancel and south nave wall. The north aisle was added the nave extended and the tower built. In the 17th century the rood screen was removed and the canopied drum pulpit installed. This remains intact and is one of the finest examples anywhere.
The oak communion table also dates from this time. In the 19th century the church was thoroughly refurbished, the vestry added, the porch rebuilt, the large east window inserted and the floors of the chancel and nave covered with Minton encaustic tiles.
The painted glass reredos of the Last Supper was installed in the 1870s, being the first of its type to be made by Whitechapel Glass company. The pulpit and the reredos are both works of national importance. Also of interest are fragments of medieval glass in the vestry window and decorative stone work in the porch, probably inserted during the early 19th century restoration.