Church of St Mary, Bitterley facts for kids
The Church of St Mary is an old and beautiful church found in the village of Bitterley, which is in Shropshire, England. It was first built a very long time ago, in the 1100s, and has been changed and added to over the years. This church is considered a very important historical building, known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's special and protected because of its history and architecture.
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History of the Church
The Church of St Mary was originally built in the 12th and 13th centuries, which means between the years 1100 and 1200, and then between 1200 and 1300. Some changes were made to the church in the 17th century.
A person named Littleton Powys was a supporter of the church. In 1707, he helped set up a special viewing area, called a gallery, at the back of the church. He was later buried there after he passed away in 1732. The church was also repaired and improved during the late 1800s.
On November 12, 1954, the Church of St Mary was officially recognized as a Grade II* listed building. This means it's a very important historical building. On the same day, a stone cross in the churchyard was also listed as a Grade I building, which is the highest level of protection for historical structures.
Church Design and Features
The Church of St Mary has a main body without any side sections, which are usually called aisles. Inside, the front part of the church, called the chancel, is separated from the main seating area by a beautiful wooden screen. This screen is carved with special shapes called quatrefoils, which look like four-leaf clovers. It also has carvings of leaves and other decorations at the top.
At the back of the church, there is a gallery, which is like a balcony. The ceiling of the church has curved edges, called coves, but they don't have any extra decorations. Near the south door, there's a very old stone font, which is a basin used for baptisms. The pulpit, where the priest gives sermons, is made of carved oak wood.
The main part of the church is about 18.1 meters (59.5 feet) long and 6.7 meters (22 feet) wide. The chancel is about 10.2 meters (33.5 feet) long and 6.7 meters (22 feet) wide. The church tower stands about 13.5 meters (44.25 feet) tall and is 4.3 meters (14 feet) wide. This tower holds three bells.
War Memorials Inside
Inside the church, there are special memorials to remember people from the area who died in wars. There is a stained glass window with two Roman soldiers, which was put there by John and Mary Burton. It honors the men from the parish who died in the First World War. Their names are listed on a stone plaque below the window. Another plaque lists the names of those who died in the Second World War.
To the right of this window, there is a plaque remembering Captain John Henry Walcot. He was part of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and was killed near Dunkirk in 1940. On the north wall, at the front of the church, you can see a wooden cross. This cross came from the battlefield grave of Lieutenant-Colonel Philip Vaughan Holberton, who was part of the Lancashire Fusiliers and was killed in France in 1918.
Churchyard and Stone Cross
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Outside the church, in the churchyard, there is an old stone cross. It stands on steps and has a six-sided pillar. At the very top, there are small carved sections called tabernacled niches. The one on the north side shows the Virgin Mary with baby Christ. The one on the west side shows the Crucifixion. The carvings on the east and south sides are very old and hard to see clearly now.
The churchyard is also home to eight war graves for British servicemen. Four of these graves are for soldiers who died in World War I, and four are for those who died in World War II. Two of the soldiers buried there from World War II were brothers.
See also
- Grade II* listed buildings in Shropshire Council (A–G)
- Listed buildings in Bitterley
