St. Mary, Langley Marish, Buckinghamshire

Description

The church of St. Mary is an edifice of flint and stone in mixed styles, consisting of chancel, nave, north aisle, south chapel and library, and an embattled western tower of brick, erected in 1649 and containing a clock and 5 bells; portions of the nave date from about 1200: some of the windows are Decorated: the chancel is 15th century and retains sedilia of that period, and there is a late Perpendicular rood screen: the font has an octagonal basin, with quatrefoil panels: the chancel is separated from the nave by an oak screen and there are two stained windows, that in the north aisle being in memory of G. Lloyd esq. J.P.: Sir John Kederminster, a former owner of the Langley estate, obtained a grant from the Dean and Canons of Windsor about 1631 to erect a pew or chapel adjoining the church, and also gave a small library containing books of divinity, which is for the free use of the clergymen of the county and parish: the library leads out from the pew and contains the original bookcases: most of the books date from between 1400 and 1700: there is also an illuminated manuscript of the 11th century: the library is controlled by a body of trustees: in the chapel are monuments to Darid Harvey, 1788; Robert Bateson Harvey, 1825; a brass to Thomas Harvey, 1802; and other memorials to Louisa Harvey, 1823; Sara Richardson, 1824; Sophie Harvey, 1936; Charles Harvey, 1845; Robert Harvey esq, J.P. d. May. 1863; and Diana Jane (Creyke), wife of Sir Robert B. Harvey, d. 1866, and Sir Robert Bateson Harvey, d. 23 March. 1B87: in the chancel is a monument, with kneeling figures, to John Kederminster, his wife, 2 sons and 3 daughters, 1558, and another to Edmund Kedermister, his wife, 3 sons, 5 daughters and 4 infants laid by their side, 1607: there are 460 sittings, 180 being free.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1643.