St Mary
Reed, Hertfordshire
St Mary’s church, parts of which are of late Saxon period, is a beautiful little church with a spiritual and peaceful atmosphere.
St Faiths is located at the northern end of the Chiltern escarpment in the village of Kelshall, near Royston.
The church is a Grade II* listed example of the late perpendicular period with very little alteration, significant restoration work in the 19th century being confined to the chancel. Sculpted faces at the entrance to the porch are believed to be of King Richard II and Bishop John Fordham, Bishop of Ely when the church was built.
Of its original features the roof stands out, displaying colourful medieval patterns of decoration. At the juncture between the nave and chancel the lower section of a rood screen has been preserved with painted figures of St Edmond and Edward the Confessor and Bishops. A higher level door indicates the existence of an earlier loft. A parvise over the porch accessed by its own spiral staircase originally housed a school.
A monument of particular note is the brass of Richard Adeane dated 1435 which is the earliest known brass bearing the inscription found elsewhere 'Executors are covetous and keep what they find'!
The church features both Pipestrelles and Brown Long Eared bats and some of the rarest lichens to be found have been recorded. It is located on the Hertfordshire Way and ramblers are welcomed and by arrangement kitchenette and WC facilities can be made available.