Church of St Mary the Virgin, Ston Easton

The Church of St Mary the Virgin stands in the quiet village of Ston Easton in Somerset. Built in the 11th century, it is a Grade II* listed building with a striking 15th-century west tower. The church’s Norman chancel arch, with its rounded shape and small columns, draws the eye inside. Most of the furnishings, including the pews, pulpit and font, date from the 19th century. Several wall monuments from the 18th and 19th centuries remember the Hippisley Coxe family, who once owned Ston Easton Park. The chancel was rebuilt in 1707, and the south aisle was added around 1800. In the 19th century the architect Arthur Blomfield carried out major repairs. He took the church apart stone by stone, numbered each one, and then rebuilt it exactly as before. The Hippisley Coxe family also have a private chapel at the east end of the north aisle. Visitors step into a calm space where old and new sit side by side. The Norman arch still dominates the chancel, its stones carefully returned to their original places. The 19th-century fittings add a sense of order and craftsmanship. The north aisle chapel remains a quiet spot for reflection, while the tower outside rises above the Somerset countryside.