St Mary the Virgin

It will be primarily the late 19th and 20th century stained glass that will draw you to this small medieval church at the centre of this handsome ironstone village.

Farthingstone, Northamptonshire

Opening times

The church is normally open during daylight hours.

Address

Farthingstone
Northamptonshire
NN12 8EZ

The church itself was well restored in the mid 19th century. Note the forest of poppy headed pews some decorated with animals playing musical instruments. The stained glass is slightly later and commences with the east window by Swaine & Bourne, 1882, put up by the Grant family.

More interesting are the windows commissioned by Phillip Agnew, the owner of Punch Magazine, who lived at Littlecourt House, now sadly demolished, on the outskirts of the village and designed for him by Walter Cave in 1905. In the south nave window you will find, unusually for a church, a large allegorical figure of Flora standing amongst a sea of roses. This is to the memory of Agnew’s daughter and was installed in 1927. Further towards the rear of the nave are windows to the memory of Agnew’s sons and grandsons as military knights; St Bars and St Galahad, and St Gareth and St Villars. These memorials to young men lost in the wars are particularly fine examples of that genre. 

You will also find in the village Joymead, a garden that Agnew had designed in memory of his daughter, complete with a cloister on its west side designed by W Talbot Brown, in memory of his son.

  • Spectacular stained glass

  • Social heritage stories

  • Glorious furnishings

  • Enchanting atmosphere

  • Captivating architecture

  • Walkers & cyclists welcome

  • Space to secure your bike

  • Parking within 250m

  • On street parking at church

  • Level access to the main areas

  • Dog friendly

  • Accessible toilets nearby

  • Church of England

Contact information

Other nearby churches

St Mary

Everdon, Northamptonshire

A large grand church set in the heart of this village positioned on a knoll.

St Michael & St James

Church Stowe, Northamptonshire

St Michael’s church is in the parish of Stowe Nine Churches, originally simply Stowe meaning ‘Christian Holy Place’.

St Mary the Virgin

Fawsley, Northamptonshire

A romantic church that stands alone, shorn of its former medieval village, looking out across the Capability Brown landscape of 1760’s toward Fawsley Hall, the seat of the Knightley family and now a country hotel.