Church of St Mary the Virgin, Harlow facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary, Harlow
St Mary-at-Latton Church from 1st Avenue
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Liberal Catholic
Website	St Mary-at-Latton
History
Dedication	Saint Mary the Virgin
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	9 July 1950
Architectural type	Church
Administration
Parish	St Mary-at-Latton
Deanery	Harlow
Archdeaconry	Harlow
Diocese	Chelmsford
Province	Canterbury

The Church of St Mary the Virgin (also called St Mary-at-Latton Church) is an old church in Latton, Harlow, Essex, England. It belongs to the Church of England and has a "liberal Catholic" style of worship. This church is very important, so it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is protected because of its special history and architecture.

History of the Church Building

How the Church Began

St Mary the Virgin Church was once the main church for the old area of Latton. In 1947, a new town called Harlow was built, and many more people moved there. Because of this, the church's area was split into three parts. The northern part kept the name Latton.

Building Through the Centuries

The first church building was put up in 1087. This was during the Norman times. You can still see a Norman window in the south wall. The old Norman door arch is also visible above a door that is not used anymore. The tall tower on the west side of the church was added by the year 1234.

In 1466, a special chapel was finished for Sir Peter Arderne. This chapel was used for chantry prayers, which were prayers for the souls of the dead. You can still see small pieces of old wall decorations there. Sir Peter Arderne and his wife, Bohun, have a special tomb between the chapel and the main part of the church. It has beautiful brass pictures of them.

Bohun, wife of Sir Peter Arderne

Around 1562, the Altham family, who owned a nearby estate called Mark Hall, added the porch to the church. Later in the 1500s, the tower and the west end of the church were rebuilt. Around 1800, the outside north wall of the church was covered with bricks. The doorway and windows on that side were closed up and covered with plaster.

Changes and Repairs Over Time

The church had many changes in the 1800s. The inside was repaired in 1848. The tower was fixed in 1873, and the main part of the church (the chancel) was repaired in 1888.

In 1945, during World War II, a V-1 flying bomb damaged the church. This caused the beautiful stained glass windows on the south side to be lost. After a lot of repairs, the church reopened in 1950.

In 1964, a fire caused even more damage. The fire destroyed the rood screen, which was a decorative screen separating parts of the church. People think the fire started from a workman's cigarette. Luckily, someone saw the fire early, but the church still needed a complete restoration in 1965. A new room called a vestry was built on the north side in 1971. The tower was repaired again in 1977.

Inside the church

Important Monuments and Memorials

Remembering Important Families

St Mary's Church has many monuments. These were put up for members of the families who owned the Mark Hall Estate nearby.

• The tomb of Sir Peter Arderne and his wife (from 1467) has brass pictures of them.
• There is also a brass picture, probably of Sir Peter's daughter Elizabeth and her husband Richard Harper (from 1492).
• An alabaster monument from 1583 shows James Altham, his wife, and their 11 children kneeling.

Other Memorials

You can also find brass memorials for Frances, wife of Richard Franklin (from 1604), and for Emanuel Wolley (from 1617) and his wife Margaret (from 1635).

Sir Edward Altham has a large marble monument from 1632. It has pillars, a triangular top, urns, and angels. There is also a wall tablet for the vicar Thomas Denne, from 1680. Other wall tablets remember members of the Altham, Lushington, Burgoyne, and Arkwright families.

Monument Gallery

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  The altar tomb of Sir Peter Arderne and his wife.

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  Monument showing the kneeling figures of James Altham, his wife, and their 11 children.

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  Sir Edward Altham’s marble monument with pilasters, pediment, urns, and angels.

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  Rev Thomas Denne’s Wall tablet.

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  Leventhorpe Altham’s Wall tablet.

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  Rev Roger Altham’s Wall tablet.

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  Peyton Altham’s Wall tablet with large Coat of Arms.

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  Rev Stephen Lushington’s Wall tablet.

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  Frances Elisabeth Campbell nee Burgoyne’s Wall tablet.

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  Robert Arkwright monument.

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  Loftus Arkwright monument.

Vicars of St Mary's Church

Past Priests Who Served Here

Many priests have served as the vicar of St Mary's Church since the 1100s. Here are some of them:

• Around 1198: Roger and Anfred were priests of Latton.
• Around 1220–1234: Ernold, a chaplain, sadly fell from the church tower in 1234.
• Around 1358: Roger de Overe was the first known vicar.
• 1361: William of Gaddesden became vicar.
• 1600–1632: Rev. Thomas Denne.
• 1632–1680: Rev. Thomas Denne Jr.
• 1680–1705: Rev. Michael Altham.
• 1705–1730: Rev. Roger Altham.
• 1730–1758: Rev. James Altham.
• 1820–1850: Rev. Joseph Arkwright.
• 1850–1864: Rev. Julius Arkwright.
• 1905–1942: Rev. Austin Oliver.
• 1969–1979: Rev. Barry Rose.
• 1999–2007: Rev. Shaun Conlon.
• 2008–present: Rev. Lynn Hurry.