---
title: "St Mary Magdalene, Ecton"
description: "Located in Ecton, Northamptonshire. Built C13, C14 and C19; tower upper stage Perpendicular. Diocese of Peterborough. Grade I. Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","Northamptonshire","Ecton","Grade I","Medieval","Rysbrack","Peterborough"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/st-mary-magdalene-ecton"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T01:38:22.066Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-08T16:00:45.736Z"
location: "Ecton, Northamptonshire"
country: "England"
county: "Northamptonshire"
town: "Ecton"
address: "Church Way, Ecton, Northamptonshire, NN6 0QE"
postcode: "NN6 0QE"
built: "C13, C14 and C19; tower upper stage Perpendicular"
denomination: "Church of England"
dedications: ["Mary"]
diocese: "Peterborough"
grade: "I"
style: "Early English, Decorated and Perpendicular"
materials: "Squared coursed lias and limestone ashlar with lead roof"
website: "https://gdwebenefice.wordpress.com/"
openingHours: "The church is normally locked, please contact us to arrange a visit."
parish: "Ecton St Mary Magdalene"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1294128"
gridReference: "SP 828 635"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas. Accessible toilets nearby"
---

# St Mary Magdalene, Ecton

St Mary Magdalene is a Grade I Church of England parish church on Church Way, Ecton, Northamptonshire, in the Diocese of Peterborough: a medieval aisled church with a Perpendicular tower top and a notable series of Palmer, Whalley and Isted monuments.

## Overview

Historic England lists a thirteenth-, fourteenth- and nineteenth-century church of squared coursed lias and limestone ashlar with a lead roof: aisled nave and chancel, west tower and north and south porches. The four-stage west tower has a Decorated west door and a Perpendicular limestone-ashlar belfry stage with a quatrefoil parapet, gargoyles and pinnacles. The interior has a four-bay thirteenth-century nave arcade of double-chamfered arches. Fittings include an early nineteenth-century panelled pulpit and box pews, a late seventeenth-century communion rail, and a circular font on a nineteenth-century base. Monuments include work by Rysbrack to John Palmer (erected 1732 and another of 1761) and a tablet by Rossi to Catherine Whalley (d.1817). The Victoria County History describes a mainly thirteenth-century fabric that may have developed from a twelfth-century aisleless church; the north porch buttress is inscribed 1456; the north chapel was rebuilt in 1890 and the south chapel in 1908. Benjamin Franklin’s family lived in the parish for centuries; his father was born at Ecton.

The church is normally locked; contact the benefice to arrange a visit.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1294128](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1294128)
- [VCH Northamptonshire: Ecton](https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/northants/vol4/pp122-127)
- [GDWE Benefice](https://gdwebenefice.wordpress.com/)