A jewel inspired by the chapel of French kings

St Mary's was built in 1866, by Henry Conybeare for his brother who was the Rector of the church, and felt the previous church was cold and damp. He himself bore most of the cost, with the parishioners contributing £50 towards the cost of the windows, as a mark of their regard for him.

This dazzling and colourful Victorian jewel of a church overwhelms the senses -it is a truly exhilarating building, tall and imposing, especially as you approach it up a steep path from the road. Its design is clearly inspired by the soaring elegance of the thirteenth-century Sainte Chapelle in Paris, chapel of French kings.

The church is a dazzling kaleidoscopic wonderland of pattern and colour. The roof is richly painted, the font is inlaid with a variety of marble, the floor near the altar is decorated with sparkling tiles laid out in the form of a maze, the pulpit has five panels filled with scrollwork and foliage in cast iron (the same design is repeated on the ends of the pews). Best of all however is the stained glass, especially in the east-end windows. The elegant arched windows contain small pieces of clear red, blue and green glass arranged in geometrical patterns.

However, make sure you admire the glorious glass of the Rose window. This window sits above the doorway on the west wall and is noticeable to all passers by travelling eastwards. This window divided into a central ring and eight surrounding lights by the tracery is filled with C13th stained glass mosaics gifted by Lady Ashburton in memory of her husband, Francis, 3rd Lord Ashburton, and Patron of the Living. Lady Ashburton was Hortense Eugenie Clare, the daughter of Hughes Bernard Muret, Duke of Bassana in France. It seems likely that it was only with her Ladyship’s support and aid that, the Rev. Conybeare, was able to build his vision of a new church built in the French gothic style.

Try to visit on a sunny day, when the church is bathed in gloriously coloured light - an unforgettable sight. Two memorial brasses remain from the previous medieval church.

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  St Mary the Virgin Old Church, Preston Candover, Hampshire

  6.27 miles

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  Holy Trinity Church, Privett, Hampshire

  8.01 miles

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  Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Colemore, Hampshire

  9.15 miles

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