The Church of St. Mary the Virgin in the Deanery of Wendover is a Grade One listed building and situated in the Drayton Beauchamp Conservation Area – an area of outstanding natural beauty.

There has been a Church on the site since the 11^th century; the present Church dates from the 15^th century when it was restored and partly re-built from materials used in earlier structures.

This consists of a Chancel, Nave, North and South Aisles and a West Tower. There is a North Porch and a Vestry below the Tower. There are traces of an Organ Loft or Minstrels Gallery above the Vestry in the Tower. There are similar traces of a Chancel Screen in the Chancel Arch.

St. Mary’s was much restored in the 19^th century. The roofs are of lead; prior to 1850 they were tiled. Materials used were mainly fluid rubble with stone dressings. The early stonework is local limestone clunch, probably Totenhoe. The Chancel is probably Northamptonshire ironstone, later renovations are Beth or Clipstone.

The Nave, like the rest of the Church was re-built in the 15^th century from materials of the two previous centuries. The pointed arch if the Chancel dates from about 1250; this has probably be re-set as it contains many new stones. The Porch was added in 1500 and shortly afterwards, the Clerestory.

An informal grass area of approximately one acre, maintained by the PCC. The burial ground contains the grave of Sir Henry Harper-Crewe, Botanist, and incumbent and patron of the Church.

In October 2000 a specially commissioned wrought iron seat, the gift of the villagers, was installed in the Churchyard to commemorate the Millennium.

The North Door still remains with its continuous moulding dating from the 15th century.

In the Chancel there are two fine brasses of 1368 and 1374, engraved by Waller and remarkable for richness of detail. These are the brothers Thomas Cheyne, Shield Bearer to Edward the Third and grantee of the Manor of Drayton and his brother William.

A smaller brass though damaged, clearly shows the beautiful vestments worn by a Priest of the Church, Sir Henry Fazakerley, who died in 1531.

In the Chancel on the south side is a blocked Hagioscope (or Squint).

Above this a black Breastplate dating from the wars between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers.

In the south wall are also two Sedilia and a Piscine, trefoiled and quatrefoiled, both 15^th century.

Cheyne Family:

In 1377 the Manor of Drayton came into the possession of the Cheyne family. In the South Aisle facing east are the remains of a Reredos of a 15^th century Altar Tomb with quatrafoil panels, presumed to have belonged to the Cheyne family who held the Manor at the time. In the centre of the south wall on the outside can be seen a blocked doorway of the 15^th century, having its spandrels the arms of the Cheynes.

On the north side of the Chancel is large marble monument to the memory of William, Lord Cheyne, Viscount Newhaven – the last of his ancient and noble family who dies in 1728. There is also a statue of the Viscountess Cheyne. This masterpiece of monumental statuary is the work of William Woodman the Elder born c1654, died 1731? It is regarded as one of the most outstanding monuments of its type in England.

Richard Hooker:

Richard Hooker the Elizabethan Divine was Incumbent in 1584 to 1585 and this is recorded on the board in the south aisle, along with names of the Rectors of the Church for over 700 years.

The stained glass window in the south wall and the carved Pulpit are dedicated to his memory, the latter being donated by the Benchers of the Middle Temple. A brief history of the life of Richard Hooker is recorded in the Church.

Windows:

The East Window, with ten of the Apostles in beautiful stained glass of the 15^th century is greatly prized. Each Apostle carries his emblem and over each is a portion of the Apostles Creed in Latin. There are further fragments of 15^th century glass in the windows of the North and South walls of the Chancel. The West Window is also largely 15^th century.

Pews:

At the back of the Church are five open wooden pews of the 16^th century; a sixth seat incorporates old work. All the other pews are later, but are fashioned in the same manner.

The are three bells, the treble is by an unknown Founder and is inscribed "Come and pray, 1621", the second, "1773" is by Pack and Chapman who are the Founders of seven of the eight inscribed bells of Aylesbury. The Tenor is by Chandler, 1704.

Conservation:

A programme of conservation work was proposed in 1998 and is progressing gradually. With the assistance of grants from English Heritage, the Historic Churches Preservation Fund, the Bucks Historic Churches Trust and the Chase Charity. The roofs to the Nave and Tower have been re-leaded, the roof timbers treated for death watch beetle and the rainwater disposal system has been substantially improved.

A modern oil-fired heating system was installed and commissioned during 2001, the cost of which was met from Church funds.