Church of St Mary, Podington facts for kids
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The Church of St Mary, also known as St Mary the Virgin, is a very old and important church in a village called Podington in Bedfordshire, England. It's so special that it's been given a "Grade I listed" status. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in the country! It became a listed building on July 13, 1964.
Contents
A Look Inside: The Church's History
Some parts of the Church of St Mary are incredibly old, dating back to the early 1200s. Imagine, that's over 800 years ago! A report from 1912 described the church as having several main parts:
- A chancel: This is the area around the altar.
- A nave: This is the main part of the church where people sit.
- North and South aisles: These are the side sections of the church.
- A South porch: This is the entrance area.
- A West tower: This is where the bells are!
Many of these parts, like the arches in the nave and chancel, were built in the 1200s. The tall, pointy part of the church, called the spire, was built in the 1300s. It started to lean and was in danger of falling down, but thankfully, it was fixed up in the 1800s.
Church Bells
In 1912, the church had four bells. These bells were also very old, made between 1609 and 1618. Imagine the sounds they've made over hundreds of years!
Who Owned the Church?
Long ago, during the time of King Henry II (who ruled in the 1100s), the church was given to a group of religious people called the Canons Ashby Priory. Later, when King Henry VIII closed many monasteries and churches in the 1500s, the Church of St Mary became property of the King. In 1545, the right to choose the church's priest was given to a person named Daniel Payne.
Interesting People and Connections
The Church of St Mary is the final resting place for some interesting historical figures. One of them was Richard Orlebar, who passed away in 1733. He was a very important person in Bedfordshire, known as the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire. His wife, Diana Astry, who died in 1716, was also buried there. She was known for writing about cooking! They used to own a large house nearby called Hinwick House.
A Special Organ Restoration
The church has a pipe organ, which is a big musical instrument. This organ was restored by a group called the 92nd Bomb Group Memorial Association. Why them? Because during World War II, the 92nd Bomb Group was stationed at the RAF Podington airfield, which was very close to the church. They flew almost 300 important missions from that base. It's a nice way to remember their connection to the area!
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in Bedfordshire
