A Norman church, much renovated over the centuries, St Mary's crowns the top of Rye's hill.
The nave has 5 wide bays formed by 13th c. arches with original dogtooth ornamentation.
The Earl of Arundel's players are known to have performed in the chancel of the church in 1481--2 and 1485--6 and, less specifically, somewhere in the church in 1483--4.
Now a Church of England parish, St Mary's is open to the public at specified times and for services.
1150--80 Nave, transepts, chancel and central tower built.
early 13th c. N and S aisles built.
ca. 1220 N chancel chapel of St Nicholas built.
ca. 1250 S chancel chapel of St Clare added.
14th c. N and S 2-storey porches built.
1377 Rye looted and set on fire by French invaders. Extensive damage done to the church.
late 14th c. W and N arches of the crossing rebuilt, as well as new windows in the aisles and flying buttress at the SE corner.
15th c. E and S crossing arches, E transept arch and chancel arcades rebuilt. New E window and rear arches of chapel windows. 2nd S porch added.
early 16th c. N and S transept windows renewed.
late 1540s Alterations made in response to Edward VI's protestant reforms. Rood taken down, stone altars removed and a wooden communion table placed in the chancel. Jesus Chapel, a wood and iron structure, dismantled (Vidler, New History 56).
later 16th c. Both chancel chapels bricked off for secular use.
late 17th c. Church decayed and in parts ruinous.
1703 Some repairs done after petitioning the king for financial help.
18th c. Continuing repairs and renovations. S or Poor Man's gallery added, extending from the E end of the nave to include 1 more arch at the W end.
ca. 1790 W door closed and low gallery added at the W end for the choir.
19th c. St Clare's Chapel used for storage of fire engines and lumber; St Nicholas Chapel used as a schoolroom for the poor.
1882--4 Major restoration including nave columns and windows. Galleries removed and clerestory rebuilt. W door closed.
REED Sussex 53, 55, 57
