Church of St Mary and All Saints, Droxford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary and All Saints |
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Viewed from the east
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| 50°57′36.4″N 1°8′9.7″W / 50.960111°N 1.136028°W | |
| OS grid reference | SU 608 182 |
| Location | Droxford, Hampshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 6 March 1967 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Portsmouth |
The Church of St Mary and All Saints is an old and beautiful church located in the village of Droxford, in Hampshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England (which is an Anglican church). This church is very special because it's a Grade I listed building. This means it's considered very important historically and architecturally. Some parts of the church are from the Norman period, which was a very long time ago!
A Look at the Church's History
The Church of St Mary and All Saints has a long and interesting past. It's believed that the first church in Droxford was built around the time of King Egbert of Wessex. In the year 826, King Egbert gave land in "Drocenesford" (which is now Droxford) to the monks at Winchester Monastery.
The oldest parts of the church you see today, like the main hall (called the nave) and the area around the altar (called the chancel), were built in the 12th century. Later, in the late 12th century, a side section (the north aisle and chapel) was added. Another side section (the south aisle and chapel) was built in the 13th century.
The archway between the nave and the chancel is from the Norman period. It has cool zigzag patterns on the side facing the nave. The north and south doors in the nave also have Norman arches with zigzag and other decorations. These doors were moved from their original spots. The nave itself has three sections, and the arches connecting them are pointed.
Changes Over the Centuries
The side sections (aisles) of the church were rebuilt in the 15th or early 16th century. The church tower was built in 1599, perhaps replacing an older one. Inside, the wooden rail around the altar is from the 17th century. It has decorative turned posts.
In the 18th century, the roofs of the nave and chancel were repaired, and new ceilings were put in. The wooden benches (pews) that people sit on today were added in 1847. The church also had a big restoration project in 1903 to fix it up.
Later, beautiful stained glass windows were added. One by Martin Travers was put in in 1938, and another by Carl Johannes Edwards was added in 1962.
The South Chapel
The south chapel has a stained glass window from the 19th century. This window shows an image of St Wilfrid with the people who helped build the church.
You can also find a special tomb in the south chapel. It has a stone figure of a lady, carved from Purbeck marble. People think this might be the mother of John Drokensford, who became a bishop in 1329. This tomb was found in a nearby field in 1820, and it's thought that it was moved out of the church a long time ago.
See also
