| Church of St Mary | |
| Location: | Selborne, Hampshire |
| Osgraw: | SU 741 338 |
| Coordinates: | 51.0985°N -0.9429°W |
| Denomination: | Church of England |
| Diocese: | Winchester |
| Heritage Designation: | Grade I |
| Designated Date: | 3 July 1963 |
| Country: | United Kingdom |
The Church of St Mary is an Anglican church in the village of Selborne, Hampshire, England. It is in the Diocese of Winchester. The building is Grade I listed; The church dates from about 1180, with modifications in the medieval period and restoration in the 19th century.
The oldest part of the church, the four-bay arcades of the nave, dates from about 1180. The north aisle, later rebuilt, is thought to have its original width. The south aisle was widened about 1220, to a size similar to that of the nave, and it has a separate roof. A north transept was built about 1305. The tower has had many alterations made, and was repaired in 1781; its original date is not known.[1]
There was restoration of the chancel about 1840; of the nave and north transept in 1877; and the south aisle and tower were restored in 1883. More work was done to the chancel in 1889. The chancel arch, of 1856, by William White, is a copy of the nave arcades.[1]
The font, at the west end of the south aisle, dating from the 12th century, is plain and round; the cover is made of wood from the Selborne Yew.[1] Over the altar there is a painting of the Adoration of the Magi by Jan Mostaert, of about 1510. It is a triptych, showing Saint Andrew on the north side and Saint George on the south. It was given to the church in 1793 by Benjamin White. Also in the church is a Flemish wood carving of about 1520, of the Descent from the Cross, originally a panel from a reredos. It was the gift of John Turner, Archdeacon of Basingstoke. In the south aisle is a stained glass three-light window fitted in 1920, a memorial to the naturalist Gilbert White, depicting St Francis and the Birds; the birds shown are all mentioned in White's The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne.[1] [2] White was the curate of Selborne for many years, and is buried in the churchyard.[3]
A yew tree stands on the left-hand side of the path leading to the south porch. It was planted about 600 A.D., and in Gilbert White's time its girth was . In The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne it is included among the village's antiquities. It was blown down in a storm on 25 January 1990; the trunk was replanted, but it was declared dead in 1991. A cutting from the tree is growing in the churchyard.[1] [4] [5] The Selborne Yew was selected in 2002 by the Tree Council as one of the 50 Great British Trees marking the Golden Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[3] [6]
Beneath the tree is the grave, lacking a headstone, of the village trumpeter John Newland. He took part in the Swing Riots of 1830; the rioters were captured by soldiers, but Newland escaped. He was eventually pardoned, and he returned to Selborne.[1] [5]