Church of St Mary, Letchworth facts for kids
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is an old Church of England church in Letchworth, Hertfordshire. People believe a church has been on this spot since before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The church you see today was mostly built in the late 1100s. It is a Grade II listed building, which means it's important and protected. It belongs to the Diocese of St Albans. We don't know the church's first name, but it was named St Mary during the First World War.
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History of St Mary's Church
This church is the oldest building in the Letchworth area. It's not very big inside, only about 60 feet long. The church is even mentioned in the Domesday Book from 1086. Some parts of the building are from the 1000s. It was built on top of an even older Saxon structure. Most of what you see today was built in the late 1100s. The roof was replaced in the 1400s. At that time, the south porch was also added.
Church Design and Features
The main part of the church, called the nave, has three sections. It also has a chancel, which is the area near the altar. At the west end of the church, there is a pyramid-shaped wooden bell-cot with a tiled roof. Inside this bell-cot is a bell from the 1300s. The outside walls are made of flint and ironstone. They are rough stones, partly covered with plaster. There are also smooth stone parts and brick supports called buttresses. The windows in the nave have a special Y-shaped design called tracery. The porch has a pointed roof and a square doorway. Inside, you can see a carved statue of a Crusader knight, Sir Richard de Montfichet. It is said that his heart is buried under the church.
St Mary's Role in Letchworth
After 1903, the small village of Letchworth changed a lot. This was because Letchworth Garden City was being built. In 1908, a smaller "mission church" called St Michael's opened. It was closer to the new town centre. Later, a new and bigger St Michael's church was built on Broadway. This new church opened in 1967.
Changes to the Parish
The new St Michael's church officially became the main parish church for Letchworth in November 1967. This meant St Mary's Church became a "chapel of ease". A chapel of ease is a church that helps the main parish church. It serves people who live far from the main church. The St Michael's church built in the 1960s had problems and closed in December 2019. However, St Mary's Church is still used today.
Notable Burials
- W. F. Harvey (1885-1937), a writer known for his horror stories, is buried in the churchyard.
Images for kids
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Grave of W. F. Harvey in the churchyard of St Mary's Church in Letchworth
