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A brass plate mounted on the South wall of the nave records that the first peal of eight bells was made in 1888. Before this date there were only four bells, the oldest inscribed, 'Thinke on God, I.W. 1594'. two other bells were added when the tower was raised in the 1620's; 'Fear God' and 'Honour the King'. A fourth bell is dated 1764, and in 1888 a further four bells were added as a gift by George Burt and his family.
Swanage has, as might be expected, strong links with the sea and there are several wall monuments which testify to this connection. Two at the West end of the nave are worthy of special mention; one to Swanage's own 'V.C.', Ernest Pitcher, petty officer in charge of the gun's crew on the 'Dunraven', a 'Q' ship in World War I. A much more imposing monument rears above it, - to three members of the Edmonds family who died within four months of each other and all were naval commanders. An adjacent wall tablet records the deaths of two members of the Chapman family, the father in November O.S 1733, and the daughter in May O.S. 1749, - a reminder that Chesterfield's Act in 1751 corrected the discrepancy between the Julian and Gregorian calendars in England. 'O.S.' signifies 'old style' and the consequent omission of eleven days had been stolen from them! There are several small, but interesting, brasses in the church and these and other features are explained in leaflets available in the church. Leaflets are also available on the organ, a fine recital instrument originally built by Vowles of Bristol. The church has a strong musical tradition with a robed choir.
St Mary's Church is strongly in use for worship, education, pastoral care and frequent organ recitals and concerts.
Visitors to the church may notice a small, stone building across the road from the church. Presently called the Rectory Classroom, this building was formerly coach house to the Old Rectory and was given to the parish by the “building rector”, the Revd. Duncan Travers. This building is used for meetings by various groups. It continues the ancient, caring role of the Church in this community which is, perhaps, best expressed in the delightful little memorial to Nurse Goldsmith, which is to be found on the wall near the font, - the bowl of which is reputedly the largest piece of Purbeck marble ever quarried!
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