Church of St Mary, Huntingfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary, Huntingfield |
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| 52°19′02″N 1°25′35″E / 52.3171°N 1.4264°E | |
| Location | Church Road, Huntingfield, Suffolk, IP19 0PR |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Central |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 7 December 1966 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Huntingfield |
| Deanery | Waveney and Blyth |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Suffolk |
| Diocese | Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a special church in Huntingfield, Suffolk, England. It is a Church of England parish church, which means it serves the local community. This church is famous for its beautiful, highly decorated ceiling. It is also a grade I listed building, meaning it is a very important historical building.
History of the Church
This church has a long history, going back to the Middle Ages. Parts of the church are very old. For example, the main part where people sit, called the nave, has a window opening from the 12th century. The area around the altar, known as the chancel, was built in the 13th or 14th century. The church's tower was added in the 15th century.
The Famous Painted Ceiling
The arched ceiling in the nave is covered with amazing paintings. A woman named Mildred Holland painted it during the 19th century. Her husband, William Holland, was the church's rector (the main priest) at the time.
The church was also updated during a period called the Victorian restoration. This happened between 1858 and 1859, and again from 1896 to 1906. On December 7, 1966, the Church of St Mary the Virgin was officially named a grade I listed building. This protects it as a very important historical site.
The Church Today
Today, St Mary's Church is part of a group of churches called a Benefice. This group includes churches from Heveningham with Ubbeston, Huntingfield, and Cookley. These churches work together.
The church is part of the Archdeaconry of Suffolk and the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. These are larger areas within the Church of England's organization. The church follows a "Central" tradition within the Church of England.
Because the parish does not agree with the ordination of women as priests, it receives special support. This support comes from the Bishop of Richborough, who is currently Norman Banks. This is called alternative episcopal oversight.
