St. Mary Magdalen, Upper Winchendon, Buckinghamshire

Description

The church of St. Mary Magdalen is an ancient edifice of stone, consisting of chancel and nave, south porch, and a massive embattled tower of Perpendicular date with a turret on the south side, square for three stages, then octagonal and rising above the parapet, with conical capping: the tower contains 3 bells: in the chancel is a brass in good preservation to Sir John Stodeley, a former vicar, dated 1515: a brass tablet was placed in the church in 1920 to the memory of the men of the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18: the chancel is Transitional Norman, with two lancet windows on the east gable, and three lancets in each side wall: the chancel arch is pointed, but of rude construction: the nave is Norman, with a fine doorway: the north aisle dates from the 14th century, the windows having flowing tracery, and opens to the nave by two round arches and one pointed, all cut through the original wall, the piers being large and rectangular: in the north wall is a good niche: there is also a Decorated screen, and a font with octagonal basin: the old altar table and rails have been preserved: the aisles and chancel are laid with old tomb slabs: there is a 14th century pulpit: the church affords 110 sittings.

Church Records

The parish register dates from the year 1606.