It is probable that there was a Saxon church on the site
originally known as "Siwold's Circe". This was superseded after the Norman
invasion by a stone built church with a splendid three tier tower of Kentish
ragstone. The oldest parts of the church are about 1133 AD. The chancel was
extended in about 1220 AD. Inside is a plaque commemorating Edith Nesbit, author
of "The Railway Children", who lived at St. Mary's Bay and is buried in the
churchyard. There are many interesting features of the building which warrant a
visit.
St Mary in the Marsh is surrounded by the stark beauty of
the marshes and the open landscapes of rich farmland
The church is Grade I listed and the entry at the Eglish
Heritage website (visit link) tells us:
"Parish church. C12, circa 1300,
circa 1800 and C19. Mixed stone, partly rendered. Plain tile roof. Wood shingles
to spire. West tower, virtually continuous nave and chancel, north and south
aisles to nave, and south porch. West tower: C12. Three stages to north and
south, lower two incorporated to west. Clasping buttresses. Splay-footed
octagonal spire. North and south sides each have small chamfered round-headed
opening to first and third stages and broader round-headed opening to second
stage (blocked to north). Single trefoil-headed light to top stage to west.
2-centred arched west door with plain chamfer and broach stops, now rendered.
South aisle: probably circa 1300. Narrow and gabled, with 3 buttresses. No west
window. Two 2-light south windows of circa 1800 with round-headed
cavetto-moulded lights and segmental hoodmould with dropped verticals.
Chamfered, round-headed east window, possibly inserted. South porch: coped, with
rounded kneelers of rendered tiles. Rectangular lights to east and west.
Chamfered 2-centred arched outer doorway and similar inner doorway with broach
stop. Chancel: C12, extended circa 1300. South-east and north-east angle
buttresses. Battered plinth to east. 2 tall rebated south lancets, that to west
longer and broader. Small doorway to west of centre with pointed arch, plain
chamfer and broach stops. Cusped 4-light east window of circa 1300, with 3
quatrefoils to head, cavetto mullions, hollow-chamfered architrave and no
hoodmould. One tall chamfered north lancet towards west end. North aisle: circa
1300. No plinth. Gabled, with moulded stone coping. 4 evenly-spaced north
buttresses on moulded plinths. 2-light east window with cinquefoiled head ,
square top and hoodmould. 2 similar windows to north in outer bays. Central
hollow-chamfered north doorway with broach stops and almost pointed head. No
west window. Interior: Structure: 3-bay nave arcade with pointed arches of 2
hollow-chamfered orders and columns with bell capitals and bases. Arcades rest
at east and west ends on moulded imposts, that to north-west forming tall
moulded hat slung low over carved head beneath. No chancel arch. Tower arch
plain chamfered and pointed (a later alterarion?). Springing from attached
columns with scalloped capitals and bell bases.East window flanked either side
by slender shaft with bell capital and base set within the hollow-chamfered
architrave of the window.Hollow-chamfered rere-arch with roll-and-fillet
hoodmculd.String below east window rounded but not undercut. Inner arches of 2
south lancets spring from small carved heads with bell "hats". Small moulded
imposts to north lancet. Rectangular stone to east of centre of chancel in north
wall said to mark extent of C12 chancel. Broad rectangular blocked opening at
west end of south chancel wall. Narrow round-headed rood-loft doorway just above
nave arcade at south junction of nave and chancel. Roof: 4 crown-posts to nave;
2 to centre octagonal with moulded capitals and bases, that to west end
rectangular with broad chamfered sides, that to east end plain. Sous-laces,
ashlar-pieces and moulded cornice. Moulded tie-beams, those to centre with
pendant posts and solid braces. Chancel roof of common rafters with collars,
sous-laces, ashlar- pieces and chamfered cornice. Straight central
plain-chamfered tie-beam. 4 short, rectangular, chamfered crown-posts to north
aisle on heavy cambered moulded tie-beams. Sous-laces and ashlar-pieces. Moulded
cornice to north. 3 plain straight intermediate tie-beams. South aisle roof
similar, but with taller crown-posts. Fittings: 2 stepped sedile and unusual
double piscina under continuous roll-and-fillet hoodmould with mask-like face
between sedile and piscina and priest's head between sedile. All 3 have
trefoil-heads, hollow chamfers and broach stops. Medieval floor tiles to
chancel. Octagonal Medieval font with octagonal shaft on square stone plinth to
west of south door. Painted wood font cover, probably C17, with knob finial.
Slender moulded beam to west end of east bay of south aisle, set towards
springing of arcade and probably the head of a screen. C18 north door to north
aisle and C18 doors with fielded panels to tower arch. C18 hexagonal pulpit with
fielded panels and balusters. Royal arms 1775 over north door. Italianate
triptych on west wall of south aisle. Monuments: Plain tablet above font to
Edith M. Nesbit 1858-1924. Brass to Matilda Jamys, d.1499, and brass to William
Gregory, d.1502 in nave."
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