The church of ST. MARY was entirely rebuilt in 1843 on a new plan, and consists of chancel with north vestry, lofty central tower, north and south transepts, aisleless nave, and south porch. It is in the style of the 14th century, faced with local ironstone, with embattled parapets and low-pitched roof. The east window is circular, but the others are pointed, those of the bell-chamber being of three trefoiled lights with reticulated tracery. The tower is in two stages above the roof, and has open traceried parapets and tall angle pinnacles. The building was repaired in 1912.
The old church, according to Bridges, consisted of chancel, nave, north cross-aisle, and west tower and spire, (fn. 72) but no adequate record of it has been preserved.
The 14th-century alabaster effigy, already described, (fn. 73) lies in a wall recess on the north side of the chancel, a position similar to that which it occupied in the old church. In the chancel (south wall) a brass plate records the burial-place of John Mar (father of Henry Mar, rector), who died 2 August 1450, (fn. 74) and in the floor of the south transept are the figure brasses of William Lane (d. 1502) and Elizabeth his wife, but the portion of inscription recorded by Bridges is missing. The figures are no longer in their proper relative positions, and the four brass shields, which were formerly at the corners of the original slab, are now on an adjoining stone. (fn. 75) In the floor of the south transept also are brass plates to Thomas Chybnale (d. 1673), his son Godfrey (d. 1678), (fn. 76) and his two wives, Elizabeth eldest daughter of Thomas Andrewe (d. 1643) and Elizabeth daughter of Sir John Wingfield (d. 1671). In the chancel is a floor-slab with the name of Alexander Ekins, rector (d. 1699), and a mural tablet to Charles Sturgis, rector and canon of Lincoln (d. 1745). The south transept, which has a separate entrance on the west side, contains various 18th-century tablets to members of the Young family.
The font now used is modern, but the bowl of an ancient one, much weathered, is in the south transept. It is roughly octagonal, but quite plain. There is a 17th-century oak chest.
The tower contains a ring of five bells cast by Thomas Mears of London in 1843. They were rehung and rededicated in 1919. (fn. 77)
The plate consists of a cup and cover paten of 1637, a bread-holder of about 1673 inscribed '1691 Patina ecclesiae de Orlingbury ex dono Alexandri Ekins Rectoris Ecclesiae praedicte', and a flagon of 1776 inscribed 'Orlingbury: the gift of a pious and charitable Lady 1776'. (fn. 78)
The registers begin in 1564, but the years 1653 to 1668 are missing. Before 1812 the volumes are as follows: (i) all entries 1564–1653; (ii) baptisms 1667/8– 1750, marriages 1668–1749, burials 1667/8–1751; (iii) baptisms and burials 1749–1812; (iv) marriages 1754–83; (v) marriages 1783–1812. Penances are recorded in 1753, 1757, and 1763, and briefs between 1699 and 1722. There is also a parchment roll consisting of many strips stitched together, with entries of baptisms, marriages, and burials 1564–1646.
From: 'Parishes: Orlingbury', A History of the County of Northampton: Volume 4 (1937), pp. 204-207. URL: (
visit link) Date accessed: 08 February 2008.