There was a church at Purton no later than the 12th century; a capital from that time still exists in the wall of the nave, which was built in the early 13th century. The chancel dates from the late 13th century. The central tower, transept and a chapel south of the chancel were added in the 14th century. Restoration was carried out in 1872 by William Butterfield, when three walls of the chancel were rebuilt. At this time a skeleton was discovered in a wall of the north transept. Nevil Maskelyne FRS, the fifth British Astronomer Royal, is buried in the churchyard.
Architecture
Exterior
The church is constructed of coursed rubble limestone, with roofs of slate and lead. Its plan consists of a three-bay nave with aisles, a tower to the west and a transept. Above the crossing is a steeple. There is a chancel, and a porch to the south. The west tower has angled buttresses and three stages; the upper stage has three-light belfrylouvres, with perforated stone screens. The tower has crocketed pinnacles at its corners and a stair turret to the north corner. The central steeple has two-light belfry louvres and a crenellatedparapet. The spire is octagonal. St Mary's is one of only three churches in England to have both a western tower and a central spire. The church houses a ring of eight bells hung for change ringing and a Sanctus bell. The first and second bells were cast in 1989, and the seventh in 1916 by John Taylor & Co of Loughborough; the third and fifth by Gillett & Johnston of Croydon in 1924 and 1923 respectively; the fourth by Robert Wells II in 1793; the sixth by Joseph Carter in 1598, the largest bell known to have been cast by this founder; and the tenor by Abel Rudhall of Gloucester in 1738. Rudhall also made the Sanctus bell, cast in 1760. The windows are three- and four-light, in the Perpendicular style, mostly dating from the 15th century. The window in the north aisle is reticulated and the east window in the chapel to the south is curvilinear. The chancel has two-light casement windows.
Interior
In the chancel is an Early Englishpiscina. The chapel south of the chancel contains a decorated piscina.
Records
The surviving parish registers date from 1558 for marriages and burials, 1564 for baptisms; there are gaps between 1641 and 1647 which coincide more or less with the disruptions of the English Civil War.
