Church of St Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth |
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St. Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Choral |
| Website | www.bridgnorthteamministry.org.uk |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Mary Magdalene |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bridgnorth |
| Deanery | Bridgnorth |
| Archdeaconry | Ludlow |
| Diocese | Hereford |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth, is a parish Church in the Church of England. It stands on East Castle Street in Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. This church is a very important building, listed as Grade II*. This means it's a special building that needs to be protected.
Contents
A Look Back: Early History of the Church
The original Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Bridgnorth started as a special chapel for the king. It was built inside the royal castle at Bridgnorth.
The main parts of the church, like the nave (where people sit) and the tower, were likely built around the year 1238. Later, an extra section called a north aisle was added after 1294. Even though it began as a private chapel for the castle, by the late 1400s, it was used as a church for everyone in the local area. The group of priests who ran the church, called the college of canons, stopped working there in 1548.
The Church Building Today
The church building you see today was designed by a famous engineer named Thomas Telford. It was built between 1792 and 1795 by John Rhodes and Michael Head.
One interesting thing about this church is that it faces north–south. Most churches usually face west–east. The church's tower is very tall, standing 120 feet high! It has a clock, eight bells, and a roof covered in copper.
Inside the church, there is a special wooden memorial for the people from the parish who died in the World Wars. It has a cross in the middle and two Latin sayings. One says "AMOR VINCIT," which means "Love conquers." The other is the town's motto: "FIDELITAS URBIS SALUS REGIS," meaning "In the town's loyalty lies the safety of the King."
Music and Bells at the Church
The Organ
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene has a wonderful organ, known as a Father Willis organ. This type of organ is very famous for its beautiful sound. It was brought to Bridgnorth from Clifton College in Bristol.
Organists
Many talented musicians have played the organ at the church over the years. Some of the past organists include William Roberts, who was also a Professor of Music, and Harold Cooper, who played for 30 years until 2002. Today, Oliver Clarke is the organist.
The Church Bells
The church has eight bells, and the heaviest one weighs just over 8 hundredweight (which is about 400 kilograms). These bells are rung regularly. You can usually hear them twice a week: on Wednesday evenings for practice and on Sunday mornings before the main service. They are also sometimes rung for special events like weddings.
