St Mary's Church, Pitstone

The earliest parts of the church are chancel and north chapel which date from about 1250. Some carved fragments of stone dating from the 12th century indicate that an earlier church stood on the site. The north and south aisles were added in the later part of the 13th century. During the 15th century the chancel was lengthened, the north vestry and the tower were added, the nave arcades were demolished and the north arcade was rebuilt. The church was restored in 1893. A further restoration took place during the 20th century. It is cared for by a group known as the Friends of Pitstone Church. The church is open to visitors on Sunday afternoons in the summer. Events and occasional services…

In the south wall of the nave near the door is a stoup, and to its east is the entry to the rood loft stairs. In the east wall is a squint. The north arcade has three bays with octagonal piers. In the north chapel is a piscina with a crocketted gable, a recess in the north wall, and a 19th-century grate in the northeast corner. The chancel is floored with tiles from the 14th and 15th centuries. The font dates from the 12th century and has a fluted bowl and stem. The 17th-century pulpit is hexagonal and has a sounding board. The triangular reading desk is dated 1685. The altar table and the pews also date from the 17th century; two of the pews are box pews. The 18th-century communion rails…