St Mary Magdalene, Ripley
Ripley is an ancient village on the old London to Portsmouth Road. The Church was built in the 12th Century to serve the small community gathered around the crossroads. In the mid nineteenth century the nave of the Church was found to be “damp and unfortunately improved”. It was replaced by a larger nave and at the same time the floor level of both nave and chancel was raised to bring the floor above the damp. Lord Nelson is said to have stopped regularly in Ripley on his journeys between London and Portsmouth; one of his captains is buried in the Churchyard. Eric Clapton was born and brought up in Ripley and still takes a strong interest in village life. The chancel is c. 1160 and the east window was inserted about 70 years later, but the bulk of this puddingstone, flint and ashlar church dates from 1846 (built to the design of Benjamin Ferrey and 1869 (Thomas Graham Jackson). There is no tower or spire—only a bell-cot at the west end. Post Code: GU23 6AE
