Much restored over the centuries, the church of St Margaret in Topcroft still has many features of interest and antiquity.
The lofty tower is a fascinating mixture of styles and editions. Some have dated the round base as Norman and the first two octagonal stages as 13th-century additions. A recent study suggests, however, that the three lower stages were built at the same time (possibly early in the 14th century), with the tower being independently constructed against an existing church. A fourth stage, the belfry, was added in the 15th century. It’s crowned by an embattled parapet with a frieze of fleurons and fine grinning gargoyles.
In 1983 the church tower was given a new lead roof. The rendering was stripped and the stonework was re-pointed. During this work, six lancet windows were uncovered and reinstated, making eight in all. The tower has three bells, but only one is currently in use.
There are carved medieval heads at the lower gable end, with a group of three heads together at the east end of the south aisle. The south porch has a niche for a holy water stoup in an exterior wall. High on its south-east buttress it has a hole (for a peg) which would have formed part of a 'mass dial'. Decorative heads flank the entrance arches.
The interior has a 14th-century arcade which leans outwards. The south aisle has large Perpendicular windows. The rood loft stairs remain in the north wall. The font dates from the 15th century. There is a trefoil-headed piscina (for washing communion vessels) at the east end of the south aisle: this suggests that there was once an altar there. The Royal Arms are of King George III (1760-1820) and the hanging wooden hatchments are of the Smyth family of Topcroft Hall. Near the chancel arch is a small but attractive tablet (inscribed in Latin) to Richard Wilton, who died in 1637.
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