St Mary's Church, Lesbury. Photo by Northumberland County Council.

Nave thought to be 12th century, aisle, chapel and chancel 13th century. 17th century additions and major restoration in 1849. (1)

Parish church. Core probably 12th century; north aisle and chapel added and chancel remodelled in 13th century; east window mid-14th century; late or post-medieval part rebuilding of tower; vestry probably 17th century; 1849 restoration; chancel arcade altered 1853. (2)

During 1998 a programme of repairs at St Mary's provided Peter Ryder with the opportunity to carry out some archaeological recording. The flooring in the west end of the north aisle was renewed , exposing remains of a stone lined under floor duct which was part of 19th century heating system. The southern half of the nave was later replaced revealing a sub circular foundation which presumably related to an earlier pulpit, possibly of an 18th century date. The church was rebuilt by Salvin in 1846, who rebuilt the south walls of both nave and chancel. However the 1998 works revealed a large block of masonry at the internal south-east angle of the nave which seem to pre-date the 1846 rebuilding.
On the south side of the chancel a series of plinths were uncovered which seemed to indicate a short 12th century chancel that was extended in the 13th century. The present east end, which survived Salvin's alterations has a 13th century string course and a 14th century window cut into it. Two almost identical stone carved panels were uncovered under the stone flags of the south -west corner of the chancel. These are made of sandstone and measure 0.48m by 0.28m. They both bear carved in relief, a shield with a single bend, above which is a stags head with antlers. The general carving is of late medieval date and they were likely to have been part of a sepulchral monument. They appear to have been deliberately defaced.(3)

Church contains a series of war memorials as:
* a roll of honour or book of remembrance "(DEDICATED TO THOSE WHO SERVED AND THOSE WHO FELL)".
* wall-mounted brass plaque inscribed "IN LOVING MEMORY OF/ JOHN CHARLES PULLEINE CRASTER/ CAPTAIN 46TH PUNJABIS (ATTACHED 40TH PATHANS)/ WHO FELL IN ACTION AT THE TAKING OF/ GYANTSE TIBET JUNE 23RD 1904 AGED 33/ I LOOK FOR THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD."
* a wall-mounted brass plaque with black lettering reading "TO THE GLORY OF THE IMMORTAL DEAD/ (NAMES)".
* a wall-mounted Portland stone tablet with blue lettering reading "TO THE MEMORY OF/ THE MEN OF LESBURY/ WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES/ IN THE WORLD WAR/ 1939-1945/ (NAMES)".
* a brass plaque inscribed "IN HONOURED MEMORY OF/ GORGE HENRY HALL SCOTT/ CAPTAIN, 7TH BATTN THE QUEEN'S REGIMENT/ WHO FELL NEAR MONTAUBAN IN THE FIRST ATTACK/ OF THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME 1ST JULY 1916/ THIS BRASS IS ERECTED BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS./ PRISTINAE VIRITUTIS MEMOR".
* three stained glass windows inscribed "THESE WINDOWS ARE ERECTED TO THE GLORY OF GOD/ AND TO THE BELOVED MEMORY OF MY HUSBAND/ HENRY HALL SCOTT, KNIGHT, WHO DIED ON 9TH NOV 1911./ HIS KNIGHTHOOD WAS CONFERRED UPON HIM IN RECOGNITION OF HIS WORK/ AS FOUNDER OF THE IMPERIAL YEOMANRY FOR THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR./ AND/ TO THE GLORIOUS AND TRESURED MEMORY OF OUR SON GEORGE HENRY/ HALL SCOTT, CAPTAIN, 7TH BATTALION THE QUEEN'S, WHO FELL IN ACTION/ ON THE 1ST JULY 1916 IN THE BATTLE OF THE SOMME AGED 34 YEARS./ PRO PATRIA". (4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)