Church of St Mary, Kington facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| St. Mary the Virgin Church | |
The church in April 2005
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| 52°12′16″N 3°02′18″W / 52.2045°N 3.03839°W | |
| OS grid reference | SO2913556762 |
| Location | Church Road, Kington, Herefordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | October 1953 |
| Years built | c. 1300 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 6 (1736-1764) |
| Tenor bell weight | 11 long cwt 23 lb (1,255 lb or 569 kg) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Hereford |
The Church of St Mary, also known as St. Mary the Virgin Church, is a very old and important church located in Kington, Herefordshire, England. It's a special local church that has been around for a long time.
History and Features
This church was mostly built around the year 1300. However, it has been changed and updated many times over the years. Its tower is even older, from the 1100s! It used to stand by itself, but then it was connected to the main church when the church got bigger in the 1200s. In the 1700s, a special pointy roof called a spire was added to the tower.
Inside the tower, there are six big bells! Five of these bells were made by a company called Rudhall of Gloucester between 1736 and 1739. The biggest bell, called the tenor, is super heavy – it weighs about 11 and a half tons! The sixth bell was made by William Evans in 1764. All the bells were fixed up in 1978 by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry, which is famous for making bells.
The church also has a large musical instrument called an organ. It was made by J. W. Walker & Sons Ltd and put in the church in 1883. Later, in 1959, it was improved and fixed up by Henry Willis & Sons.
Outside the church, you'll see a special gate called a lychgate. It's made from beautifully carved stone and dates back to the 1700s. This lychgate is quite unusual because it has a domed roof with a fancy top decoration called a finial. It also has open archways on each side.
Inside the church, there's an amazing monument made of alabaster. It honors Sir Thomas Vaughan, who passed away in 1469 during a battle, and his wife Elen Gethin.
Important Status
The Church of St Mary was given a special "Grade I listed" status in October 1953. This means it's a very important historic building. This status helps protect it from being changed or torn down without permission. The church is part of the Diocese of Hereford and is one of five churches in the area that are managed together.
Nearby Places
Right across from the church, you can see the original building of Lady Hawkins' School. This building is from the 1600s, but today it is used as a private home.
