Cheltenham Minster, St Mary's facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cheltenham Minster, St Mary's |
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Cheltenham Minster
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Mary |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Cheltenham St Mary with St Matthew |
| Deanery | Cheltenham |
| Archdeaconry | Cheltenham |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
Cheltenham Minster is a very old and important church in Cheltenham, England. It's also known as St Mary's. It's the main church for the area and has been a place of worship for many, many years.
Contents
A Look at Cheltenham Minster
The Oldest Building in Town
Cheltenham Minster is the only building left in Cheltenham from the Middle Ages. That means it's super old! People have been using it for over 850 years without stopping. It was closed for repairs sometimes between 1859 and 1877, but it always reopened.
It's thought that a much older church, built by the Saxons in the 700s, stood here first. The church and its land were mentioned in the Domesday Book. This was a big survey ordered by William the Conqueror way back in 1085. The church later belonged to Cirencester Abbey.
Changes Over Time
When King Henry VIII closed down monasteries, the church became property of the King. Later, James VI and I sold it. It had many different owners until 1863.
The church has different styles of architecture. Some parts show the Early English style. But most of it is in the Decorated style, which means it has lots of fancy details. The windows have beautiful stained glass from the late Victorian period. The wooden parts inside are also from Victorian times or later.
The Tower and Its Bells
A special part of the church is its tall spire and bell tower. The top of the tower was built around 1200. The pointy spire was added in the early 1300s. The designs on most of the windows were made between 1250 and 1350.
The Minster's Bells
The bell tower has twelve bells. These bells were made in 2018 by a company called John Taylor & Co. They were part of a big project to fix up the church. The first set of bells, probably six, was put in around 1680. More bells were added over the years. In 1889, people rang the ten bells for over nine hours! Two more bells were added in 1912, making it twelve.
Important People and Memories
The church has many memorials inside. One remembers Captain Henry Skillicorne. He helped develop Cheltenham's first spa, which was a place where people went to drink special water for their health. There's also a memorial about King George III visiting the church in 1788. He attended several services there.
Another memorial is for John English, a priest who was put in prison by the Puritans. The church is a "Grade I listed building." This means it's a very important historical building that needs to be protected.
A Famous Leader
One of the most famous leaders of the church was Francis Close. He was a strong Evangelical Christian. He worked at the church for thirty years. He also started two colleges that later became the University of Gloucestershire. He left in 1856 to become the Dean of Carlisle.
For most of its history, St Mary's Church served a small town. It used to stand out in the landscape. But in the early 1800s, many new buildings were built around it. Now, the church is hidden behind shops and offices. In Victorian times, more churches were built because Cheltenham's population grew very fast.
The Church's Journey
When the Church Closed
In July 1859, St Mary's was thought to be unsafe and had to close. While it was closed, the church members met in the Town Hall. Then they used a temporary church made of wood and metal.
In 1863, Edward Walker suggested making St Mary's bigger or even replacing it. Many plans were made, but people didn't agree. So, instead, the church was repaired between 1851 and 1877. It also got gas lighting and a new heating system.
A New Church Appears
The temporary building was later replaced by a permanent stone church. This new church, called St Matthew's, opened in 1879. The church leader at the time wanted St Matthew's to be the main parish church. But the people of the town said no.
In 1890, a new entrance porch was built on the south side of the church. In 1911, the number of bells increased to twelve. Over the 1900s, small changes were made inside the church. A prayer chapel was added.
Modern Updates and New Name
More changes happened in 2012. The prayer chapel moved, and the font (where baptisms happen) was moved too. Toilets and other facilities were added. Some pews (church benches) were removed to create more space for the chapel, exhibitions, and events.
On February 3, 2013, St Mary's was given a new special title: Cheltenham Minster. This was done by Michael Perham, who was the Bishop of Gloucester.
A group called The Friends of St Mary's, Cheltenham helps raise money to keep the church in good condition.
