St Mary's Church, Tarleton

St Mary's is constructed in handmade brick that was originally plastered, with stone slate roofs and with ashlar upper parts to the tower. Its plan consists of a small rectangular building in four bays, with a semi-octagonal apse, a bell-tower at the west end, and to the west of this a flat-topped porch.[1] The church measures 47 feet 9 inches (14.55 m) by 21 feet (6.40 m), with the apse measuring 12 feet (3.66 m) by 8 feet (2.44 m).[3] Along the north and south walls are large round-headed windows with glazing bars that are continued upwards into intersecting tracery. Above each window is a keystone, and between the windows are triangular pilasters which act as buttresses.

St Mary's windows on the North facing wall

The apse has a similar window on each side, leaving the east end blank. Running down the east end is a rain drain pipe, its head being decorated with the arms of Banastre of Bank, and the date 1719. On the top of each corner and on the east gable end is a flaming-urn finial. Around the summit of the apse is a modillioned cornice. At the west end of the porch is a round-headed doorway with a keystone, on each side of which is a window similar to those on the sides. Rising above this, the west end of the church and the lower part of the tower are stuccoed. On each side of the tower is a small round-headed window, and an even smaller round-headed window is in the lower part of the tower.[1] The tower is thin and oblong.[4] On each side of the tower, above a string course, is a louvred bell opening with a triangular head, and around the top of the tower is a moulded cornice.[1] On its summit is a rotunda consisting of a cupola carried on columns, surmounted by a weathervane.[4] The turret had two bells but one was moved to Holy Trinity. The remaining bell is dated 1824.[3]

St Mary's Interior, showing font

The porch incorporates a vestry and stairs leading to the panelled gallery which is supported by square fluted columns and occupies the west and south sides. At the east end are box pews created for George Anthony Legh Keck of Bank Hall while the west end has open benches.[4] In the centre of the north side is a reading desk. The church has an octagonal panelled pulpit,[1] an 18th-century font in the form of a simple baluster, a 19th-century cast iron stove decorated with wreaths standing on claw feet[4] and a flagged floor.[1]

The church has no electricity but oil lamps are suspended over the aisle. It is unheated since the chimney for the stove was removed. The organ is a type of American harmonium which has pedals to operate its bellows.[6]