Church of St Mary the Virgin, Clumber Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin, Clumber Park |
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The Gothic Revival chapel at Clumber Park
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| 53°15′53.21″N 1°3′42.62″W / 53.2647806°N 1.0618389°W | |
| Location | Clumber Park |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo Catholic |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Dedicated | 22 October 1889 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 125 feet (38 m) |
| Width | 65 feet (20 m) |
| Height | 175 feet (53 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Worksop Priory |
| Deanery | Bassetlaw and Bawtry |
| Archdeaconry | Newark |
| Diocese | Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham |
| Province | Province of York |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin at Clumber Park is a beautiful Anglican church. It is located in Nottinghamshire, England. This church is very important, so it is listed as a Grade I listed building. This means it has special historical and architectural value.
Contents
History of St Mary the Virgin
The story of St Mary the Virgin church began with an earlier chapel. In 1864, Henry Pelham-Clinton, the 5th Duke of Newcastle, asked for a chapel to be built. It was called the Chapel of St Paul. The architect for this first chapel was Thomas Chambers Hine. However, this chapel was never fully finished. People even started calling it "the pigeon coop" because it was left incomplete.
Later, Henry Pelham-Clinton, the 7th Duke of Newcastle, decided to demolish the old chapel. He wanted a new, grander church. In 1886, he commissioned a new chapel. This one was dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. The famous architect George Frederick Bodley designed it. R. Franklin of Diddington, Oxfordshire, was the builder.
The church was built using special stones. Inside, they used Red Runcorn stone. For the outside, they used Steetly ashlar with Red Runcorn details. The construction was finished by 1889. It cost about £30,000 at the time. This would be a huge amount of money today!
The Bishop of Southwell officially opened the church on 22 October 1889. This opening ceremony was reported in the Derby Daily Telegraph. It caused some discussion and concern among certain groups within the Church of England at the time.
Design and Features
The Church of St Mary the Virgin has a special shape. It is built in a "cruciform" plan, which means it looks like a cross from above. It has a tall tower in the middle. This tower holds one bell. A spire rises from the tower, reaching about 175-foot (53 m) high. The spire has an interesting octagonal (eight-sided) crown at its base.
The church is built in the "Decorated" style of English Gothic architecture. This style was popular in England between 1290 and 1350. The main part of the church, called the nave, has a simple design inside. However, the chancel, which is the area around the altar, is richly decorated with beautiful carvings. The colorful stained glass windows were created by Charles Eamer Kempe.
Church Services
The church holds regular services for visitors and the local community.
- A "Sung Mass" is held every Sunday at 11:30 AM.
- "Evensong" services are held at 3:00 PM on some Sundays during the summer.
The Church Organ
The church has a large and impressive organ. It has three keyboards, called manuals. The company Gray & Davison installed it in 1889. The organ has mostly stayed the same since it was first built. It had a major check-up and repair in 1979. This work was done by Harrison and Harrison under the guidance of David Butterworth. You can find all the details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Past Organists
- Rupert Pike was the organist from 1918 to 1928.
More to Explore
- Grade I listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
- Listed buildings in Clumber and Hardwick
