Church of St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay |
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Church of St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay
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| 52°31′33″N 0°26′21″W / 52.52586°N 0.43907°W | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St. Mary and All Saints |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Architect(s) | William Horwode |
| Architectural type | Perpendicular Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 1411 |
| Completed | 1434 |
| Construction cost | £300 (equivalent to £116,466 in 2021) |
| Specifications | |
| Height | 116 feet (35 metres) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Fotheringhay |
| Deanery | Oundle |
| Archdeaconry | Oakham |
| Diocese | Peterborough |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Mary and All Saints, Fotheringhay is a historic church in Fotheringhay, Northamptonshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is famous because it holds a special burial place, called a mausoleum, for important members of the Yorkist family. The Yorkists were a powerful royal family during the Wars of the Roses, a series of wars fought in England long ago.
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History of Fotheringhay Church
The building of this impressive church started in 1411. It was begun by King Edward III. He also built a college next to the church. This college was like a school for priests.
The main part of the church was finished around 1430. Then, a parish church was added to the western side, starting in 1434. A local builder named William Horwood was hired to construct the main hall (nave), entrance porch, and tower. He was paid £300 by the Duke of York. This part of the church is what we see today.
The church is dedicated to St Mary and All Saints. It has a very tall, distinctive tower that stands out in the local area. The church is built in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. This style was popular in England during the late Middle Ages. Even though only the nave (main hall), aisles (side sections), and the octagonal (eight-sided) tower remain from the original building, it is still a beautiful example of its time. The tower is 78 feet (24 meters) high to its top walls. It reaches 116 feet (35 meters) high to the very top of its pointed decorations.
The famous writer Simon Jenkins once described the church beautifully. He said it looks like a "galleon of Perpendicular on a sea of corn." This means it looks like a grand sailing ship floating on a golden field.
The college next to the church continued until 1547. At that time, the King took control of it. The part of the church called the chancel was pulled down soon after. A grammar school was started in its place, which lasted until 1859.
Yorkist Royal Memorials
Near the church was Fotheringhay Castle, a main home for two Dukes of York. Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York, was buried here. He died in 1415 at the Battle of Agincourt. Edward had set up the college for priests at this location earlier. His burial made the church a special resting place for the Yorkist royal family.
In 1476, a very grand ceremony took place at the church. This was for the reburial of King Edward IV's father, Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York, and his younger brother, Edmund, Earl of Rutland. They had died in the Battle of Wakefield in 1460 and were first buried simply.
Their bodies were moved to Fotheringhay with great respect. King Edward IV himself was there. He showed deep sadness and respect for his father. The procession was very grand, with many important people. After the ceremony, the bodies were placed in a special vault under the church. It is said that thousands of people came to see the event and share in a large dinner.
In 1495, Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, who was the mother of King Edward IV and Richard III, was also buried here next to her husband. She left many valuable church items to the college in her will.
Later, in the 1500s, the choir section of the church was destroyed. Queen Elizabeth I then ordered that the broken Yorkist tombs be fixed. She created the monuments we see today around the altar for the Duke of York and his wife.
Every year, the Richard III Society celebrates the birthday of King Richard III at the church. They place white roses there to remember him.
Church Features
Pulpit
The church has a special 15th-century painted pulpit. A pulpit is a raised stand where a preacher gives a sermon. This one was given by King Edward IV. It has the royal coat of arms on it. It also shows a bull, which was a symbol for George of Clarence, and a silver boar, a symbol for Richard of Gloucester.
Organ
The church has a pipe organ with two keyboards. It was made by Vincent Woodstock around the year 2000.
Notable Burials
- Richard Plantagenet, 3rd Duke of York - Reburied on July 30, 1476. (He was first buried at Pontefract after his death.)
Gallery
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Crewes of Fotheringhay
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Plan showing parish and collegiate churches, and the cloister
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Norman foundation
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Masonic mark
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Church bell
