Church of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a medieval church in Luccombe with walls of rough stone and a west tower built from red sandstone rubble. The building takes on different architectural styles across its sections, reflecting how construction continued in stages over several centuries.

The chancel began in the 1300s, but the main nave and tower came later around 1450, showing how the building grew over time. A side aisle was added in the early 1500s as the congregation needed more space.

The interior shows how the church continues to serve as a gathering place for worship, with furnishings and fittings that reveal long traditions of religious practice in this rural community.

The church remains active for worship, so visitors should check ahead before visiting to avoid service times. Reaching it involves a short walk from the village of Luccombe, and exploring inside is best done when services are not taking place.

The three-stage tower features decorative gargoyles and string courses that run around its height, capped with crenellations that show medieval stonemasons worked with care on this corner of the building.

Location: Luccombe

Inception: 1300

GPS coordinates: 51.18950,-3.55983

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:48