The History of the Church of St Mary

The church with five virgates of land (about 100 acres) had been given to the Abbey of St Evroul Normandy, by the then Overlord Hugh Grentesmesnil, before the year 1081. Upon the suppression of alien Priories in 1415, the possession and advowson was transferred to the Prior and convent of Jesus of Bethlehem at Sheen (now renamed Richmond Surrey).After its suppression the advowson was granted, in 1552 to Sir Thomas Wrath, who passed the right to William Weston, who had himself been presented to the living by the prior of Sheen. John Bale possessed the advowson in 1560. During the Stuart period, the Crown presented the Living on 4 occasions, but from 1654 the Palmer family had held the sole Right. The Right is now shared with two others, alternatingly, since the unification of the benefices of Shangton and Burton Overy with Carlton.
The main feature of the church is the massive unbuttressed Norman tower. The arch towards the nave is shafted, the shafts have scalloped capitals, and in the arch there is a zig-zag on the soffit (the underside) as well as on the face, meeting at right angles, a strong roll moulding. The columns have long since been missing. The lower two stages of the tower can be dated to the 11/12th century. The belfry stages were added in 1686, as the inscription on its north face indicates. There are 3 bells all inscribed and dated 1732.
Above the arch are the Royal Arms of George 111, of the period 1801/16. [See picture below] When the Pope’s jurisdiction in England was repudiated in 1536 and Henry the V111 made himself head of the Church of England, the Royal Arms were introduced into our churches to emphasize the change. During the reign of Queen Mary nearly all were destroyed, but were restored in subsequent reigns, only to be destroyed again during the Commonwealth. Upon the restoration of the Monarchy in 1660, the display of these Arms was made compulsory, but since the 19th century, the practice has fallen into disuse.
The main body of the church was rebuilt in 1767, with a further restoration in 1880/81, when the roof was renewed and raised, and the S/porch rebuilt. At the same time the north chapel was rebuilt to serve as a vestry and house the organ. The organ, lectern and font were a gift Mr & Mrs E.F.Bigge, who were then living at Carlton Hall.
The 19th century stained glass east window was the gift of Colonel Palmer and other members of his family. The communion plate consists of a cup and paten, dated 1686 which were the gift of Frances Grantham whose daughter married into the Palmer family. The oldest existing Church Register dates back only to 1749, but incomplete copies of the earlier lost Registers, which were sent to the Bishop of the Diocese annually, known as Bishop’s transcripts, dating back to 1571/72, are still extant in the County Archives.
In the vestry behind the organ, there is an alabaster monument bearing the recumbent effigies of Sir John Bale (d. 1622) and of his wife Frances (d 1624) and carved in relief behind them, are the standing figures of their children. The Bale family had been Lords of the manor [see pictures with the monumental inscriptions]
Their armorial shield still shows evidence of colouring.
In the window behind the monument are 7 shields of arms, illustrating notable marriages in the Palmer family. The oldest glass (15th century) showing Palmer shield, quarterly, sable a chevron or, between 3 crescents argent: with argent, on a bend sinister sable 3 bezants, for Ward This marriage of 1407 joined the two Manors of East Carlton within the Palmer family, then follows 4 consecutive generations, viz
Palmer/Kinsman, Palmer/Francis, Palmer/Conyers, Palmer/Lovet. The 2 other shields show Palmer of Stoke Doyle and Palmer of Carlton Scroop, Lincs, marriages into the East Carlton Palmer family

This history is taken from the wall hanging inside the church.

The Parish Chest

The Altar

The Font which stands just inside, by the entrance porch

The Royal Coat of Arms