Little Brickhill, Buckinghamshire

St. Mary Magdalene (parish church)

The parish church of St. Mary Magdalene, standing on the brow of a hill, below which runs the Roman Watling Street, is an ancient building of local stone, chiefly in the Perpendicular style, and consists of chancel, nave of four bays, south aisle with chapel, south porch and an embattled western tower, supported by four large buttresses, containing a clock and 4 bells: the chapel at the end of the south aisle contains a piscina and aumbry, and has a hagioscope: the chapel which opens into the chancel is now used as a vestry, and has hanging on the wall a curious framed and coloured panel, containing an account of a certain William Bennett, son of an alderman of Chester, who died here in 1658 on his way from London to Chester: on the north side are some remains of an ancient chantry chapel, with a trefoil-shaped piscina of the 14th century: this chapel is supposed to have contained the tomb of the founder of the church, was blown down in the year 1710, after having been for some time used as a village school; the south doorway is Decorated and there is a cylindrical Norman font and a small brass to Robert Seling, 1696: there is a stained east window to Frances, widow of the Right Hon. Sir George Henry Rose G.C.H. clerk of the parliaments, and mother of Field Marshal Lord Strathnairn G.C.B., G.C.S.I. and of his brother, Sir William Rose K.C.B.; she died 12th October, 1861: there are other memorial windows to Rev. Thomas Pym Williamson, vicar 1860-86, and to his wife: the church has been repaired at various times; about 1700 it was renovated through the munificence of Dr. Browne Willis, and more completely in 1864, the chancel being rebuilt by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners: it now affords 200 sittings: the churchyard was enlarged in 1870 and 1931; on the south side is a tomb inscribed to True Blue: here also is a stone pillar bearing a Calvary in lead as a memorial to the men of this parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18.