St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stansted Mountfitchet

St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stansted Mountfitchet
Tower of St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stansted Mountfitchet
St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stansted Mountfitchet Location in Essex
Coordinates: 51°53′43″N 0°12′33″E / 51.8953°N 0.2092°E / 51.8953; 0.2092
OS grid reference	TL 521 242
Location	Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	Churches Conservation Trust
History
Dedication	Saint Mary the Virgin
Architecture
Functional status	Redundant
Heritage designation	Grade II*
Designated	21 February 1967
Architect(s)	Francis T. Dollman (restoration)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Norman, Gothic
Specifications
Materials	Flint and stone, brick tower

St Mary the Virgin's Church is a redundant Anglican church near the village of Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It stands about 1 mile (1.6 km) to the southeast of the village in the grounds of Stansted Hall. The church has been listed because of its "historical value and internal features".

The church was built between 1120 and 1124 by William Mountfitchet and still retains some features from that time. In the 13th century the chancel was extended towards the east, and a chapel was added to the north side of the church. The west tower was added in 1692. The church was extensively restored in 1888 by Francis T. Dollman, at which time the nave and the aisle were rebuilt. A chapel of ease dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist was built in 1889 nearer the centre of the village. This church is now the parish church of Stansted Mountfitchet. St Mary's remains consecrated and is used for occasional services and other events.

St Mary's is constructed in flint and stone, and the tower is in brick. The chancel arch and the north and south doorways survive from the original building, and are in Norman style. The chancel arch is decorated with zigzag and ball flower carving. The doorways are similar and each has three orders of columns with scalloped capitals and saltire decoration. The tympanum in each doorway is decorated with diapering.