St Mary the Virgin Church: The Church consists of a Chancel measuring internally 21ft x 15ft, Central Tower 9ft-6ins Square, Nave 43ft x 16ft & a South Porch.
The Building, which is of unusual Plan, the Central Tower being narrower than either the Chancel or Nave, dates from the opening years of the 13thC, at which time the Nave was considerably shorter than at present. The Nave was lengthened & re-Roofed in the 15thC, when the height of the Walls was raised & the South Porch added. During the 16thC the Walls of the Chancel were raised & a New Roof added; the Tower was restored in the 17thC & there has been a recent restoration. The materials are Flint Rubble with Limestone Dressings & the Roofs are covered with Lead. The Chancel has a triplet of original Lancets in the East Wall. In the South wall are 2–14thC windows each of 2-cinquefoiled lights with Tracery under a pointed Head & in the North Wall are 2-similar windows, but the Lower part of the Eastern window has been Built up. In the South Wall is a 13thC Piscina with a Shouldered Head, the Bowl of which has gone & one of the Jambs has been cut away, and on the East Wall is a Stone bracket, intended, perhaps, to support a Reredos. The Central Tower has an original 2-centred Arch to the Chancel, with plain square edges broken at the Springing by Moulded Abaci & a similar Arch opening into the Nave. The Jambs of both Arches show Pin Holes for Screens & the Base & Impost Mouldings have been cut for their fixing. There is a Blocked Lancet window on the North & another on the South placed high in the Wall; below the latter is an original round-headed Doorway with a window in it, both of which are Blocked. On each side of the Belfry is a plain pointed window partly Blocked, that on the North being of Brick.
The Nave is lighted by 2-windows in the South Wall, one near the East end of the North Wall, and one in the West Wall; all 14thC windows of 2-lights & similar to those in the Chancel. The extent of the lengthening disclosed during a recent restoration appears to be about a 3rd of the present length. The South Doorway, between the windows, is of Original date & has a plain 2-centred Arch with a Roll Label & chamfered Jambs & Abaci; the Blocked North Doorway opposite is also Original, but quite plain.
The Nave has a fine late-15thC Roof with moulded Trusses, Ridges & Purlins. The Tie-Beams are Embattled & supported on curved Brackets with Traceried Spandrels & the triangular spaces above the Tie-Beams are also filled with Tracery between the Purlins.
The Chancel has a Low-pitched Roof of the 16thC, the moulded Trusses of which are supported on Curved Brackets. The Porch, which retains its original Moulded Roof, is entered by a 15thC 4-centred Arch & has an original Trefoiled Light in each of the East & West Walls. The Font is probably of the 17thC; it is now covered with Plaster & Paint & has a cover with a Strap Hinge. The Hexagonal panelled Pulpit, supported on a Turned Shaft, dates from the late-17thC. On the North & East Walls of the Nave & on the Walls & Window Jambs of the Tower are traces of early Painting.
On the North Wall of the Chancel there is a Brass to William Syer, Rector, who died in 1605 & on the South wall of the Nave is a Brass to William Este, 1534, Sybil his wife & their 4-daughters & 8 sons. At the East end of the Nave, partly below some Pews, there is a Slab with indent for a Brass. In the Chancel is a Floor Slab to Ann daughter of Thomas Colby, who died in 1640. There are 4–Bells; the Treble by Lester & Pack of London, 1763, the 2nd, 1634, & Tenor, 1637, by Ellis Knight & the 3rd, 1729, by Richard Phelps.
The Communion Plate includes a Cup & Cover Paten of 1577.
The Registers begin in 1574.
Advowson: The Church of Radnage appears to have been Granted with the Manor to the Knights Templars, whose Master Presented in 1231. Like the Manor it subsequently passed to the Hospitallers & at the Dissolution became Crown Property, and has so remained, the right of Presentation being exercised by the Lord Chancellor. In 1291 the Church was assessed at £6-13s-4d & in the 16thC the Rectory was valued at £8-0s-0¾d. The Annual Pensions then included one of 13s-4d to the Master of the Knights Hospitallers.
Charities: The Poor’s Land, which was the subject of an Inquisition of Charitable uses held in 1632, is Regulated by a Scheme of the Charity Commissioners of 16th November 1869. The Trust Estate consists of 25-acres or thereabouts in Radnage, 5-acres in Kingsey & 3-Cottages with Gardens of the Annual Rental value of £44. By an Order of the Charity Commissioners 1904 1/3rd of the Net Income is made applicable for Educational purposes as the Poor’s Land Educational Foundation & is applied towards the maintenance of the Parish School. The remainder of the Income is applied equally between the Parish Church & the Poor in Clothing & Coal.
There were 2-Small Primitive Methodist Chapels in the Parish.
Stockenchurch to Radnage Circular Walks
Radnage Parish Boundaries
Aston Rowant & Chilterns Spring Line Villages 