To spot St Mary's Church, look straight ahead for a grand stone building with tall arched windows, a sturdy square tower topped by battlements, and dark, dramatic stonework that looks like it’s been plucked right out of a castle or a medieval movie set.
Now that you're standing before St Mary's Church, let’s imagine you’ve just stepped back in time some 800 years, when this place first began its story! The thick stone walls and those impressive windows are not just beautiful, they’ve watched centuries of excitement - and maybe more than a few disagreements. In the 1200s, this place wasn’t just a church, it was a collegiate church, filled with priests who would chant and sing their prayers daily. You’d hear their voices echoing right where you’re standing now.
But make no mistake - it wasn’t all peaceful hymns and friendly handshakes! In the winter of 1258, things got a little heated. The church, being a Royal Peculiar, meant it answered straight to the king, not the bishop. The bishop at the time, Roger de Meyland, was having none of it. Picture this: one chilly December day, he storms up to the church with a gang of armed men! Doors slam, voices shout, and a skirmish breaks out right here. The bishop forces his way in and, let’s just say, those canons and clergy got more than they bargained for - definitely a day no one forgot in a hurry.
Fast-forward a few hundred years, and the church became the favorite of the Aston family, who managed to stay on the nice list of both Catholics and Protestants - not an easy task back in the day. In fact, when Lord Aston died in 1678, locals of all faiths gathered here for his burial, turning a time of division into one of unity. That’s the kind of story that gives you chills - or maybe that’s just the draft through these ancient stones.
Take a peek inside if you can, and you might spot some fascinating memorials to folks like Sir Edward Aston and even to Izaak Walton, a famous fisherman. Don’t forget to listen out for the mighty organ - it’s so grand, it actually earned a Grade I award all by itself! If you hear its deep, rolling notes, you’ll know why.
So, as you stand here, remember: you’re sharing space with nearly a thousand years of drama, devotion, and a dash of intrigue - all watched over by these stony old walls. And trust me, they could tell a few stories if only they could talk!
