Wavendon, Buckinghamshire

St. Mary (parish church)

The church of St. Mary, entirely restored 1848-9, by Rev. H. Burney, consists of chancel, nave of four bays with clerestory, aisles, south porch, and a western tower containing 5 bells: the chancel, which is Early Decorated, has a fine stained east window of four lights, a double piscina of curious design, and tripl sedilia: on the north side of the chancel is an arcade of four semicircular arches, inclosing as many stone stalls recessed in the wall: a low stone screen, with centra! gates of brass, separates the chancel and nave: the arcades dividing the nave and aisles are Early Decorated, while the clerestory, the whole of the roofs and the upper part of the tower are Perpendicular: the ends of the aisles were formerly chapels, and still retain their piscinae: the font, of Totternhoe stone, is of considerable size, and has a cover of carved oak: there are two memorial windows and monuments to the Hoare family, including a mural brass in the north aisle, erected by Julia, his widow, to Henry Arthur Hoare esq. of Wavendon House J.P. and high sheriff of Bucks in 1866, who died in 1873: the church also contains memorials to the family of Saunders, of Battlesden, among which are two brasses placed to Richard Saunders esq. 1639, and his four wives, Elizabeth (Charge). ob. 1596, Frances (Fitzhugh), Beatrice (Annesley), and Frances (Stanton) and there is a memorial to Dame Gemima Cecilia Clarke, died 1922; a brass memorial plate to Nathaniel Sturges (d. 1925) of Wavendon Park, churchwarden and guardian for nearly 40 years, and another memorial to Charles Henry Geoffrey Mansfield-Clarke M.V.O. (d. 1919), major, Rifle Brigade, of Wavendon Manor, only son of Gen. Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke bart. G.C.B., G.C.V.O.: a memorial window and a brass were placed in 1894 to the Rev. Henry Burney M.A. rector here 1847-93, and a window to Sophia his wife, and a window in 1898 to Miss A. Hoare and Mrs. Festing; there are 400 sittings. In the churchyard is a decorated stone cross, erected in honour of 17 men connected with the parish who fell in the Great War, 1914-18.