St. Mary, Thatcham, Berkshire

Description

The church of St. Mary is a very fine structure in mixed styles, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, south porch and an embattled western tower with pinnacles, containing 6 bells and a clock with chimes: adjoining the chancel is St. Anne's chapel, built by Lady Anne Danvers in 1504 as a burial place for her husband, Sir William Danvers, and herself; this chapel has been furnished and adapted for daily services, chiefly with the aid of Lord Hambleden, the surviving representative of the Danvers family; the chapel contains a monument of the Fuller family, of Chamber House, 1620, as well as memorials to Sir Archer Croft, 3rd bart. of Croft Castle, Hertfordshire, who died 30th Nov. 1792, and to Frances, his mother, wife of Sir Archer Croft, and bart. M.P. who died in 1767; there is also an altar tomb to Sir William Danvers, one of the judges of the Common Pleas and a "Knight of the Sworde," made at the marriage of Prince Arthur, 17th Nov. 1501, who died in 1504: and floor stones of the Tull family, to whom the chapel now belongs: there are several stained windows and an extremely fine Norman doorway in the south porch: the chancel arch is also in the Norman style, but is modern: the tower has a Decorated doorway and windows of the same date: the church was fully restored about 1852, and affords 600 sittings.

Church Records

The register dates from the year 1561, and has been carefully reprinted.