Chetwode, Buckinghamshire

SS. Mary and Nicholas (parish church)

The parish church of SS. Mary and Nicholas is formed out of the chancel of an Augustinian priory church formerly standing on the site; consequently the present nave and chancel are not separated in any way: a north chapel was added about 80 years after the rest of the building, or in 1330: there is a low tower at the north-west angle containing one bell: the chancel is a fine example, of Early English: the whole east end is occupied by five graceful lancets with bold mouldings and slender shafts: the north and south aisles are lighted by triplets of similar character, and on the south side is a rich arcade with light shafts supporting foliated caps and the toothed ornament in the mouldings: one arch of this arcade serves as a priest's doorway, and other arches as sedilia; the remains of ancient stained glan in the eastern windows, representing five figures, were some time since removed to the south window of the chancel; this glass dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, and is the earliest and best preserved for its date of any in the county: in the chancel is a slab inscribed to Risley Risley, 1755: during repairs to the church about 1868, portions of the original tiled paving of the church were discovered, both below the existing floor and in the yard in front, formerly covered by the nave of the conventual church: in the middle of the south aisle, close to the wall, a slab was found, incised with an eight-Cusped floriated cross, and with a marginal inscription in Norman-French, which, when perfect, ran Sir Jon Giffard gist icey De sa alme Dieu pur sa pitie eit mercy, and supposed to refer to Sir John Giffard, of Twyford, c. 1350; one of the tiles found appears to bear the arms of this family, viz.: 3 silver lions passant, on a field, gules: in or about 1822 the north chapel and the walls of the chancel, except part on the south side, were taken down and rebuilt: there is a tablet to the memory of Sir John Chetwode bart. who died Dec. 17, 1845, and was buried here: there are 120 sittings.