St Mary, Bentworth

Bentworth is a delightful village with an interesting church, just north west of Alton.

The church itself has a nave with north and south aisles, and chancel. Dating from the 13th Century, the aisles have four bays each, of robust round piers, scalloped capitals and pointed arches. The chancel east window has delicate shafts inside, alongside which is a piscina with a trefoiled head with dogtooth - an unusual form. The tower arch is later, as is the font, which dates from the early 16th century and has attractive cusped arches on the sides. The font also has a delightful cover, dated 1605.

The porch arch is worth a closer look for the graffiti which is carved into the outside; alongside the usual initials, there are several representations of the cross on a hill, and what might be Marian ("M") markings - apotropaic marks, intended to ward off witches. There are dates inscribed ranging from 1597 to 1967. Outside in the churchyard, tucked away under a tree, is the grave of George Cecil Ives (1867-1950). A poet, writer, penal reformer and early homosexual law reform campaigner, he was an acquaintance of Oscar Wilde and a friend of Edward Carpenter, and deserves to be better known.

The church is part of the united benefice of Bentworth, Lasham, Medstead and Shalden. Services are held every second and fourth Sunday at 10am.

St Mary, Church Street, Bentworth, Alton. GU34 5RE