Church of St Mary the Virgin, Fawsley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin Church |
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| Church of St Mary the Virgin | |
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| Location | Fawsley, Northamptonshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Dedication | Mary, mother of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 1968 |
| Completed | approximately 1209 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Fawsley |
| Diocese | Peterborough |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a historic church in Fawsley, Northamptonshire, England. It's part of the Church of England and serves the local area. This church was built a long time ago, in the 1200s. It's so important that it's a 'Grade I listed building', meaning it's protected for its special history and architecture.
History of St Mary's Church
The church building you see today was built in the 1200s, around 1209. It's believed to have been built where an older wooden Anglo-Saxon church once stood. For a while, it was a smaller chapel connected to St John the Baptist Church in Blisworth.
Later, during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries, many church buildings were destroyed. However, this church was saved because it owned land in Bedfordshire. This land was used to support a special type of church service called a chantry.
In 1690, the back part of the church, called the chancel, was rebuilt. Over time, statues of the Knightley family were placed inside. Many members of this important local family were buried here. The church was officially recognized as a Grade I listed building in 1968. This status was updated in 1987.
In 2015, some of the copper covering the roofs was stolen. This caused rain to leak inside and damage the church. People have been working hard to raise money to fix the roof and replace the temporary plastic cover.
The Church Tower and Bells
The church tower holds a special set of four bells. These bells are very old and are famous because they are the oldest set of four bells that were all made by the same company at the same time. They were likely made by W. Chamberlain of London around 1440.
Each bell has a special message carved into it:
- The smallest bell (Treble) says: SANCTE BOTOLFE ORA PRO NOBIS (Saint Botolph, pray for us).
- The second bell says: IN MULTIS ANNIS RESONET CAMPANA JOHANNIS (In many years may John's bell resound).
- The third bell says: SIT NOMEN DOMINI BENDICTUM (Blessed be the name of the Lord).
- The largest bell (Tenor) says: JOHANNES EST NOMEN EIUS (John is his name).
All four bells also have three unique symbols carved into them. These symbols help experts identify where and when they were made. The bells still have their original "canons," which are the loops at the top used to hang them.
The wooden frame that holds the bells was built in the early 1600s. In 1965-1966, a company called John Taylor & Co repaired the frame. They also fixed the bells so they could be swung for chiming. In 1992, volunteers made the frame even stronger. This allowed the bells to be rung in a special way called "full circle ringing." A special service was held on September 26, 1992, to celebrate this improvement.
The Washington Family Connection
In 1720, a special carving of the coat of arms of the Washington family was noticed outside the church entrance. This was likely because Reverend Lawrence Washington once owned land in this area. He was the great-great-grandfather of United States President George Washington.
The shield carving was later hidden by stones. But it was found again in 1885 and protected with a glass case. The church also has beautiful stained-glass windows that show the Washington family arms. These windows were moved here from Sulgrave Manor, which was the Washington family's ancestral home.
