St. Mary, Hitcham, Buckinghamshire

Description

The parish church of St. Mary is a small building of stone, brick and flint, of the Norman and Decorated periods, and consists of chancel, nave, south porch and an embaitled western tower containing one Pre-reformation bell and 6 bells added in 1919: there are five Decorated windows retaining fragments of ancient stained glass, and four modern stained windows; the glass in the chancel windows, lately restored, dates from the year 1340: in the nave are four Norman windows: the carved pulpit is canopied, and there is an ancient oak chest: in the chancel is a monument with kneeling figures to Roger Alford, his wife, son and daughter, 1580, and another with recumbent effigy in armour, executed in alabaster, to Sir William Clarke. kt. 1624; this monument is canopied, and on either side is the figure of a knight holding back a curtain; on the front of the tomb are other figures kneeling: there is also a monument to George Cruickshank, 1765; a brass with effigies to Nicholas Clarke and three children, 1551; another brass to Sir Francis Clark knt. 1631, and one with effigies to Thomas Ramsey, 1510, and Margaret his wife: a carved stone tablet on the north wall of the chancel, commemorates the men connected with the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18: the church was restored in 1866 and again in 1907; the oak pews, the gift of Col. L. H. Hanbury, were presented in 1938: there are 100 sittings.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1559; it records the burial of Dr. Friend, the celebrated writer on medical matters, and court physician; he owned the manor of Hitcham and died 1728.