St. Mary’s Parish Church
of Mortehoe
History
The first chapel at Mortehoe was allegedly founded by Sir William de Tracey to atone for his part in the murder of Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury. The North and South doorways could go back to this time of 1170. The first recorded rector was John Allesworthy in 1258, about this time the the west end was probably extended and the chancel added. The tower built by the side of the nave and connected by a round-headed doorway was completed in about 1270.
The chantry chapel of St Mary Magdalene and St Catherine was founded 1307. The former chantry of St. George dates from 1500 as does the porch and vestry. The churches treasures are bench ends most of which date from the fifteenth century. There are forty eight in all depicting Instruments of The Passion, coats of arms and portraits of local dignitaries.
The mosaic which covers the entire wall over the chancel arch dates from 1903 and was designed by Selwyn Image. Depicted are four angels and the Mystic Lamb, projected against a shimmering back-cloth of gold. The tomb chest surrounded by iron railings almost certainly belongs to Sir William Tracey (rector of Mortehoe 1307-22). The arcaded sides of the tomb depict a scene of Crucifixion and two female saints, one of whom may be positively identical as St. Catherine. The lid has the clearly incised figure of a priest with chalice.
