St Mary’s, Stapleford Tawney
The parish church of St
Mary consists of chancel,
nave with west bell-turret, south chapel, and vestry. The walls are
of flint-rubble with dressings of limestone. The roof is tiled. The
bell-turret is timber-framed and weather-boarded and has a shingled
spire. There is a footpath across the fields from here to St
Michael’s where there is another cache in this
series.
The chancel was built
about 1220. In the north wall is a lancet window which may be
original, though the splay stones have been recut.
The nave was built
shortly after the chancel. A blocked north doorway with chamfered
jambs and two-centred arch, partly restored, can be seen
externally.
The south chapel was
built about the middle of the 13th century. On the east side are
two wall-arches, the smaller of which is partly original
13th-century work. Enclosed under the larger is an original lancet
window. Three lancet windows in the south wall and one in the west
wall may also be of the 13th century, much restored.
In 1862 the church was
largely rebuilt and the north vestry, organ chamber, and south
porch were added. The three lancet windows in the east wall of the
chancel are of this date as well as the two-light windows of
14th-century design in the nave. The arcade of two bays between the
south chapel and the body of the church was built or rebuilt at
this time.
There are two bells,
one of 1611 by William Carter, and the other of 1630 by Robert
Oldfield.
The communion rails date from
the 17th century and have unusual flat moulded and pierced
balusters. The font in the form of a Norman column dates from the
19th century but the wooden cover is older. The stone pulpit is of
the 19th century. The mosaic reredos, representing the Last Supper,
was presented by Sir Charles Cunliffe-Smith, Bt.
During the restoration
of 1862 two stone coffins and slabs, probably of 13th-century date,
were found below the chancel. One of these is now outside the
church on the south side
The cache
You’re looking for a 35mm
film canister. The cache has a log book but no pen so please bring
one with you.
Church Micro Series
If any body would like to expand
to this series please do, could you please let sadexploration know
first so he can keep track of the Church numbers and names to avoid
duplication.