Church of St Mary, Bideford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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St Mary's Church in 2018
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| Location | Bideford, Devon |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architect(s) | Edward Ashworth (rebuilt) |
| Years built | 15th century (original) 1862–1865 (rebuilt) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Exeter |
The Church of St Mary is a special church in Bideford, Devon, England. It belongs to the Church of England. The church you see today was built in 1865. It replaced a much older church from 1260. That older church was built on the site of an even earlier Saxon church. Since 1949, St Mary's Church has been a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historic place. It is part of the Diocese of Exeter.
Contents
History and Design of the Church
The current church was built between 1862 and 1865. It was designed by Edward Ashworth. The church is made of stone with special limestone details. It replaced a Norman church from 1260. Before that, a Saxon church made of cob and wattle stood here. Many old parts and memorials from the earlier churches were kept.
The Tower and Bells
The strong tower of the church is very old. It dates back to 1260 and is the only part left from the original Norman building. The top of the tower has a special battlemented parapet design. Inside the tower are eight bells. Five of these bells were made in 1722. The other three were made in 1876. Next to the tower, you can see the town's War Memorial. It lists the names of people who died in the two World Wars.
Inside the Church: Special Features
Near the main entrance, there is a holy water stoup. This is a basin for holy water. Its age is not known, but it is very old. Close by, you can find records about Raleigh. He was one of the first Native Americans to come to England. He was also the first Native American to become a Christian and be buried in England.
All Saints' Chapel
The All Saints' Chapel is a special area in the church. It used to be reserved for the Mayor and leaders of Bideford. The Votive Stand in the chapel was made for the Mothers' Union. It was dedicated in 1999. This stand is made of wrought iron. It looks like the baptismal font and also like a signal beacon. On the altar, there is a Memorial Book that started in 2006.
A glass screen separates the chapel from the north aisle. This screen was engraved by Peter Tysoe. It was dedicated on Easter Day in 1982. The first three parts of the screen show Jesus being baptised by John the Baptist. His disciples, John, James, and Peter, are watching. The other parts show important figures. These include Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Archbishop Luwum of Uganda, and Saint Boniface. You can also see Saint Anne, who was Mary's mother, and a Bideford fisherman with a Knight.
The nave is the main part of the church where people sit. It has six-bay aisle-arcades with special arches. The baptismal font is on the east side of the north door. It is a round bowl carved from a huge piece of granite. It has eight panels, but only three are carved. The font is thought to be from around 1080. It has cable designs, which might show the change from Saxon to Norman styles. The base of the font was added later.
A local story says that Oliver Cromwell's soldiers threw the font out during the Civil War. They supposedly used it as an animal trough. The screen at the bottom of the tower is made from old bench ends. These were saved when the Norman church was taken down. It has beautiful early Tudor carvings. You can also see the coat of arms of the famous local Grenville family.
The Pulpit and Grenville Tomb
The pulpit was made in 1894. It is crafted from white marble with orange, green, and red veins. This marble came from Ashburton in south Devon. Devon craftsmen carved it with columns and a figure of Christ. To the right of the altar is the tomb of Sir Thomas Grenville. He died in 1513. The Grenville family supported the church in Bideford for many centuries.
The tomb has panels with a figure of Sir Thomas in armour lying down. The tomb and its decorations are in almost the same spot as they were in the Norman church. Above the tomb, a Tudor arch has a Latin message carved on it. It says:
Hic jacet Thomas Graynfyld miles patron(us) (huius) eccle(siae) q(ui) obiit XVIII die me(n)sis Marcii A(nno) D(omini) MCCCCCXIII cui(us) a(n)i(ma)e p(ro)piciet(ur) D(eus) Amen ("Here lies Thomas Grenville, knight, patron of this church who died on the 18th day of March in the Year of Our Lord 1513, to whose soul may God look on with favour Amen")
Sir Thomas is shown in full armour. His feet rest on a dog. His hair is chin-length, and his hands are together in prayer. He holds a ball-shaped object. A family historian, Roger Granville, said in 1895 that this object was his heart.
Sir Thomas's great-grandson was the captain of the Mary Rose. This ship sank off Portsmouth in 1545. His great-great-grandson was Sir Richard Grenville. He was a famous sailor, explorer, and leader during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. He was captain of the Revenge. He died in the Battle of Flores in 1591. He fought bravely against many more Spanish ships and refused to give up his ship.
A Story from 1549
During the Prayer Book Rebellion in 1549, something interesting happened in St Mary's churchyard. A priest named Rev Richard Gilbert had a disagreement. Sir William Coffin was riding by the church. He heard a loud argument between Gilbert and people at a funeral. They had brought a poor farmer's coffin to the churchyard. The mourners told Sir William that Gilbert would not perform the service. He wanted the deceased's best cow as payment. Sir William told Gilbert to do the service right away. When Gilbert refused, Sir William told the mourners to start burying the priest in the grave! They grabbed Gilbert and put him in the hole. They began to fill it with dirt. When only his head was showing, Gilbert screamed for help. He promised he would bury the old man without taking any payment.
Memorials and Windows
On the south wall of the church, you can see a memorial bust of John Strange. He was a local merchant and helped the town and church a lot. He was Mayor of Bideford four times. He died in 1646 from the plague. He caught it while helping others who were sick.
To the right of the main entrance, on the north wall, is a large memorial. It is for Admiral Bedford Clapperton Trevelyan Pim. He was a Royal Navy officer and an Arctic explorer. He searched for the Franklin Expedition. He was the first person to travel from a ship on the eastern side of the Northwest Passage to one on the western side. The church's stained-glass windows were all made in the late 1800s. The east window was made by Alexander Gibbs in 1865. The north window was made by Arthur J. Dix.
The Organ and Chained Book
The organ in the church is a large instrument with three keyboards. It was made by "Father" Willis of Henry Willis & Sons in London. It was installed in 1865 and fixed up in 1971. Nearby, in a glass case, is a chained book from 1567. It is a copy of Apology of the Church of England. Queen Elizabeth I asked Bishop John Jewel to write this book. It explained the ideas of the Protestant faith. Copies were ordered to be chained in all churches in England. They were read from every Sunday. Bishop Jewel went to school nearby in Barnstaple.
Gallery
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The "Father Willis" organ from 1865.
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The doors under the tower are made from old Tudor bench ends.
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The wall memorial to John Strange (died in 1646), who was Mayor of Bideford four times.
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A plaque remembering Raleigh, a Native American buried in the churchyard in 1589.
