St Mary's Church, Portbury

St Mary's Church in Portbury is a parish church with Norman-era origins and a substantial porch built in the 15th century. The building features stone slate roofs covering the chancel and vestry, with original architectural elements preserved throughout.

The church was founded during the Norman period and underwent expansion in the 15th century with the addition of a substantial porch. Within the building lies the Berkeley Chantry chapel, which contains early burials of the Berkeley family from around the 1190s.

The church maintains strong connections with St Mary's V.A. Primary School, combining educational and religious activities for the local community.

The building is open to visitors and serves as an active place of worship, so checking visiting times beforehand is advisable. It sits in a quiet village setting and is straightforward to find if you follow local road signs.

The churchyard contains ancient yew trees, with one specimen having grown there for roughly 900 years. These old trees are woven into the fabric of the site and link this place to generations of local history.