St. Mary the Virgin, Kintbury, Berkshire
Description
The church of St. Mary the Virgin is an ancient structure of flint, stone and brick, in the Late Norman, Early English and Decorated styles, consisting of chancel, nave, transepts, south porch and a western tower of Late Norman and Perpendicular date, with a plain parapet, and containing a clock and 6 bells: the chancel is divided from the nave by a massive Norman arch, and has a piscina formed in the sill of a window; the reredos is of wood and alabaster carved and illuminated, and has in the centre a sculptured representation of the "Crucifixion;" in the church are several ancient monuments to the families of the present and, former lords of the manor, including Sir John Darrell bart. of West Woodhay, ob. 1625; Sir Jemmett Raymond and Sir Jonathan Raymond, both by Scheemaker, and to the Shaws; on the south side of the chancel is a curious brass with effigies to John Gunter, buried 2 Jan. 1624, and to Alice, his wife, buried at Cirencester, 18 March, 1626, erected by his son-in-law, Joseph Plat; and in the north transept is a memorial window to the late F. H. Appach esq. of Elcot Park, and members of his family: in the chancel is another to Philip Jemmett, alderman of London, 1678; and in the nave a tablet to the Hon. Charles Dundas, of Barton Court (created 10th May, 1832), baron Amesbury of Kintbury, a member of the House of Commons for more than half a century and representative of this county during ten successive Parliaments; the barony, on his death, 30 June, 1832, became extinct; his daughter Janet married the late Admiral Sir James Whitley-Deans Dundas G.C.B., M.P. of Barton Court, who died 30 October, 1862, and to whom there is a memorial window in the church; there is also a brass and window to the Rev. James Whitley-Deans Dundas, and other stained windows to John Lidderdale M.D. to whom there is also a brass tablet, and to Capt. Thomas Dunn, of Inglewood; in the south transept is an inscribed tablet to William Shaw, of Inglewood, d. 16th November, 1874, and a mural monument, with figure, to Margaret, widow of Major-General Dunn R.A. of Inglewood, d. 1890; the massive brass lectern was presented by his widow, mother and children, in memory of C. A. W. Dundas; the stalls were put in as a memorial to the late vicar, the Rev. William Fraser Campbell; a new organ was provided in 1889; the church was restored in 1859 at a cost of about £800, and again in 1884-5, at a cost of £1,400, when the interior was reseated and a new vestry built; it was again enlarged in 1905: there are 280 sittings. In the churchyard is a monument of stone, surmounted by a cross, to the Rev. F. C. Alderman, d. July, 1875, one of Aberdeen granite to the Rev. William Fraser Campbell, vicar 1873-86.
Church Records
The parish register dates from the year 1559.