Church of St Mary the Virgin, Weston-on-Trent

St Mary’s is an active Anglican church in the village of Weston-on-Trent, Derbyshire. It is the Archdeaconry of Derby City and South Derbyshire, the Deanery of Mercia and the Diocese of Derby, and is one of the seven churches in the BeneficeOriginally used in feudal societies to describe a grant of land as a reward for services rendered. In modern usage it refers to a collection of parishes working together under a single incumbent. of Aston on Trent, Elvaston, Weston on Trent and Shar.^[1]

The earliest parts of the church date from the 13th century, with additions during the 14th and 15th centuries. The building was restored by Jolley and Evans in 1876–1877. As at 2026 St Mary’s is a Festival Church, meaning that services are held only at Christmas, Easter, Harvest and other occcasions.^[2][3]

St Mary’s was designated a Grade I listed building in 1967.^[2]

Architecture

Exterior

The church is constructed of ashlarMasonry of squared and finely cut or worked stone, commonly used for the facing of a building. and coursed squared stone, plus some rubble. It has shallow leaded roofs and embattled parapets to the naveCentral part of a church, used by the laiety., aislesPart of a church on either side of the nave or choir, separated from them by arcades, colonnades or piers. More generally, a passageway between seats in an auditorium, shelves in a supermarket and so on. and the 15th-century two-stage tower.^[2]

Interior

Inside the church is an “unusual monument” with the life-sized figures of Richard Sale and his wife Dorothy, who died in 1625 and 1615 respectively, with the smaller figures of children behind, all kneeling in a row.^[2][a]Richard Sale was the rector of St Mary’s from 1575 until 1625.^[3]