Geograph - photograph every grid square

St Mary's Church, Reigate

More properly known as St Mary Magdelene Church, or Reigate Parish Church, its existence was first documented in the 12th Century, although there was probably a church on the site before 1066. It originally consisted of an aisleless nave and a central tower. The south aisle to the nave (on the left in this view) was added in the 12th century, with the extension alongside the chancel added in the 14th century. The 14th century also saw the south aisle extended, the south porch added and the tower moved to its present position, although the tower had to be rebuilt, along with the nave, in 1874, having been deemed unsafe. The two storey addition just visible to the right of the east window was added in 1513 - the upper storey houses the Cranston Library, founded in 1701 by the then vicar of Reigate, Rev Andrew Cranston, and thought to be the first public lending library in England.

With the exception of the tower (built in Bath Stone), the church is built from Reigate Stone, a soft calcareous sandstone originally mined from under the North Downs nearby.

The church is grade II* listed - for listing particulars see Link.