Raised in the village, Howard was the right-hand man of both Edward IV and Richard III, who created him Duke of Norfolk.

[2] The church is noted for the south porch with its groin vaulted roof, restored carved bosses and priests chamber above.

Other special features of the interior include the font, clearly marked with the rose en soleil badge of Edward IV and with panels of the emblems of the four Evangelists.

The church has a number of other 15th century brasses and a wall monument to Sir Francis Mannock, 1st Baronet, of Giffords Hall (d 1634).

[5] Contemporary depiction of John Howard at prayer from stained glass window, south chapel, St. Mary’s Church.

All the mediaeval glass in St Mary’s fell victim to Colonel Dowsing’s Parliamentary Commissioners in 1643, with other examples of Puritan vandalism to be seen in the church.