St Mary's Church dates from the 12th century as is shown by the original Norman arches and was possibly built on the site on an earlier small Saxon church.
The present appearance of the church is largely the result of extensive renovations carried out during the middle of the 19th century.
The tower and porch were rebuilt, the old galleries removed and the interior was refurbished and extended. The tower has a saddle back roof, containing 2 bells.
The organ was built by Bevingtons, a famous firm of organ builders, in 1865.
During the same period many windows in the church were restored as memorials to members of the Stratton family, generous benefactors of St Mary's.
The choir stalls, pulpit, font and altar font were all donated in the early part of the 20th century in remembrance of local parishoners.
Despite these more recent renovations, many early features have been carefully preserved. In the floor of the chancel are some interesting 15th century brasses. One commemorates a parish priest, John Yates who died in 1497 and who is depicted in pre-Reformation eucharistic vestments.
The roll of the previous rectors of St Mary's going back to 1170 also mentions John Yates.
Another brass is of a local farmer, Thomas Grene, who died arround 1470; he is shown standing between his two wives Johanne and Margarete.
At the east end of the North aisle is an early 17th century marble mermorial to Simon Heyes, his wife Amy and their infant daughter Margaret who lived at Turweston Manor.
The monuments and churchyard are testimony to the church's historical past. A shrine was erected in the churchyard in 1920, at a cost of £100, in memory of the men connected with the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18.
St Mary's has been a centre of community life for centuries and we hope that it will continue to be so for generations to come.
Church Records
The parish register of baptisms dates from the year 1695; marriages and burials, 1696
