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St. Mary's Church in Lyford consists of a chancel 22 ft. 3 in. by 13 ft., nave 42 ft. by 18 ft., a western timber bell-chamber and a north porch. The measurements are all internal.

The church was apparently built entirely during the first half of the 13th century. The belfry was probably erected in the 15th century, and late in the same century, or early in the 16th, the clearstory was added to the nave. The church was restored in 1875.

The chancel has a single lancet in the east wall, largely modern, but with old external jambs. In the north wall are two 13th-century lancets and further west a low-side window with a trefoiled head and a squint cut from the west jamb into the nave, at which end it is now blocked. At the east end of this wall is a locker with a shouldered head rebated for a door. There are two lancet windows in the south wall similar to those on the north and further west a square-headed low-side window. South of the altar is a small pointed piscina with a shelf and foliated bowl. The chancel arch and roof are modern.

The nave has a 13th-century lancet with a modern internal head in the north wall, and above it is an early 16th-century clearstory window of three lights with rounded heads. There is a similar window of two lights towards the west end of the wall. The 13th-century north doorway is pointed and chamfered with a chamfered label. In the south wall a lancet similar and opposite to that in the north wall has the sill carried down to form a shelf, and above it is a clearstory window like that on the north. Further west is a second lancet and a two-light clearstory window. The south doorway is similar to that on the north, but is now blocked. In the west wall is a modern window set in an old opening. The belfry stands on a timber frame set within the west end of the nave; it consists of four massive oak posts with curved braces to the upper part; above the roof it appears to be modern. The roof of the nave is of the low tiebeam type, quite plain, lead covered, and of the 15th century. On either side of the base of the belfry is a 15th-century oak screen, probably formerly the rood screen. It has four bays on either side with fourcentred heads and moulded mullions; the embattled cornice is modern. The communion table and pulpit are both Jacobean, the former having turned legs and a carved front rail; the latter is hexagonal with carved or arcaded panels, three in the height, and a modern stone base. At the west end of the nave are a number of plain old oak benches with moulded rails. The font, with octagonal bowl and stem and a moulded base, is of the 15th century. The north porch is modern except for the oak outer archway, which is roughly semicircular and of the 15th century. There are three bells, but they are not accessible. The plate and registers are modern.

Historical information about St. Mary's Church is provided by 'Parishes: Hanney', in A History of the County of Berkshire: Volume 4, ed. William Page and P H Ditchfield (London, 1924), pp. 285-294. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/berks/vol4/pp285-294 [accessed 8 March 2023].

St. Mary's Church is a Grade II* listed building. For more information about the listing see CHURCH OF ST MARY, Lyford - 1199327 | Historic England.

For more information about St. Mary's Church see Parishes: Hanney | British History Online (british-history.ac.uk).