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 |
| 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, also known as St Mary's, is a very old and important church in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. It's the main church for the town and is known as a "minster" because of its historical importance.
Contents
Discovering Cheltenham Minster's History
Cheltenham Minster is the only building left in Cheltenham from the Middle Ages. It has been used continuously for over 850 years! Imagine all the history it has seen.
People believe that a much older church, built by the Saxons in the 8th century, stood here first. The church and its land were even mentioned in the Domesday Book. This was a famous survey ordered by William the Conqueror in 1085.
Over the centuries, the church changed owners many times. It was once owned by Cirencester Abbey. Later, during the English Reformation, King Henry VIII took control of it.
Architecture and Design of the Minster
The church has a mix of different building styles. Some parts show the "Early English" style, which was popular a long time ago. But most of the church shows a "Decorated" style, with lots of fancy details.
The windows have beautiful stained glass from the late Victorian era. These colourful windows are considered very high quality. The wooden parts inside the church are also from the Victorian period or even more recent times.
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 Minster's Famous Bells
The bell tower holds a set of twelve bells. These bells were made in 2018 as part of a big restoration project. Ringing these bells is a special tradition called "change ringing."
The first set of bells was probably put in around 1680. Over time, more bells were added. In 1889, a record-breaking peal (a long ringing session) lasted for over nine hours! Two more bells were added in 1912, making it a full set of twelve.
Important People and Memories
The church has many interesting memorials. One remembers Captain Henry Skillicorne, who helped start Cheltenham's famous spa. Another marks the visit of King George III in 1788. He attended many services at St Mary's during his stay.
There's also a touching memorial for John English, a priest who was imprisoned a long time ago. Because of its historical importance, Cheltenham Minster is a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic site.
One of the most famous people connected to the church was Francis Close. He was a priest here for 30 years. He also helped start two colleges that later became the University of Gloucestershire.
For most of its history, St Mary's Church served a small town. It used to stand out in the landscape. But as Cheltenham grew, especially in the early 1800s, many new buildings were built around it. Now, the church is tucked away behind shops and offices.
A Church's Journey: Repairs and New Beginnings
In 1859, St Mary's was closed because it was considered unsafe. While it was closed, the church community worshipped in a temporary building.
In 1863, there was a plan to make St Mary's bigger or even replace it. Many ideas were suggested, but people disagreed, so the plan was stopped. Instead, the church was carefully repaired and updated between 1851 and 1877. It even got gas lighting and a new heating system!
The temporary church building was later replaced by a permanent stone church called St Matthew's. There was a suggestion to make St Matthew's the main parish church, but the people of Cheltenham said no.
Over the years, the Minster has had more changes. In 1890, a new entrance porch was built. In 2012, the inside of the church was rearranged. They added toilets and other facilities, and moved some areas around to create more space for activities and exhibitions.
On February 3, 2013, St Mary's was officially named Cheltenham Minster. This was a special moment for the church and the town.
A group called The Friends of St Mary's, Cheltenham helps raise money to keep the church in good condition. They also have a helpful website with more information.
Related links
- The Friends of St Mary's, Cheltenham
- Worship at St Mary with St Matthew, Cheltenham
- Ringing at Cheltenham Minster, St Mary's
Images for kids
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A view showing the Rose Window
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A view including the tower. The surrounding buildings make it awkward to get a fuller picture of the church.
