St. Mary, Stowe, Buckinghamshire

Description

The church of St. Mary, surrounded by the private grounds of Stowe House, is a building of stone in mixed styles, with some Decorated windows, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, north or Penyston chapel, south porch and a western tower containing 5 bells: a stained window was inserted in 1890 by the Baroness Kinloss C.I. as a memorial to her parents the 3rd and last Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, d. 26 March, 1889, and Caroline (Harvey) his 1st wife, d. 28 Feb. 1874, and there are memorials to previous Dukes and other owners of the estate, and in the chancel brasses to Alice Saunders, c. 1479, and John Temple, 1592, and Hester, his wife: in the chapel are memorials of the Penystons, including a figure of Hester Penyston, 1617: the church alfords 250 sittings.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1568.