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 |
| Website | worksoppriory.co.uk |
| 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 is a beautiful Anglican church located in Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire, England. It is a very important building, recognized as Grade I listed by English Heritage. This means it's considered a building of amazing architectural or historical value.
Contents
History of the Church
The story of St. Mary the Virgin church began with an earlier chapel. In 1864, Henry Pelham-Clinton, the 5th Duke of Newcastle, started building a chapel called St. Paul's. It was designed by an architect named Thomas Chambers Hine. However, this first chapel was never finished and was even nicknamed "the pigeon coop."
Later, Henry Pelham-Clinton, the 7th Duke of Newcastle, decided to tear down the old chapel. In 1886, he asked for a brand new church to be built, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin. This new design came from the famous architect George Frederick Bodley.
Building the New Church
The church was built by R. Franklin of Diddington, Oxfordshire. The builders used special stones: Red Runcorn stone for the inside and Steetly ashlar with Red Runcorn details for the outside. The church was finished by 1889. It cost about £30,000 at the time, which would be a huge amount of money today!
The church officially opened on October 22, 1889. The Bishop of Southwell led the opening ceremony. However, this event caused some discussion among certain groups within the Church of England because of the style of the service and the church's decorations. Some people felt it was too similar to Roman Catholic traditions.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St. Mary the Virgin is shaped like a cross when you look at it from above. It has a tall tower in the middle with one bell inside. A very tall spire, about 175 feet (53 m) high, rises from the tower.
The church is built in a style called "Decorated Gothic." This is a type of Gothic architecture known for its beautiful details. While the main part of the church (the nave) is quite simple, the area around the altar (the chancel) is decorated with detailed carvings. The colorful stained glass windows were made by Charles Eamer Kempe, a famous artist.
Church Services
The church holds regular services for people to attend:
- Sung Mass is held every Sunday at 11:30 AM.
- Evensong (an evening service) takes place at 3:00 PM on some Sundays during the summer.
The Organ
The church has a large organ with three keyboards. It was put in place in 1889 by a company called Gray & Davison. The organ has mostly stayed the same since then. It had a major check-up and repair in 1979 by Harrison and Harrison, but its original sound and parts are still there. You can find more technical details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Past Organists
- Rupert Pike was the organist from 1918 to 1928.
More to Explore
If you're interested in other important buildings, you might want to look up:
- Grade I listed buildings in Nottinghamshire
- Listed buildings in Clumber and Hardwick
