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

St Mary the Virgin Church, often called St Mary-at-Latton Church, is a historic church in Latton, Harlow, Essex, England. It belongs to the Church of England and follows a "liberal catholic" tradition. The church building is very important and is a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its special history and architecture.

History of St Mary's Church

St Mary the Virgin Church was once the main church for the old area of Latton. After Harlow became a new town in 1947, the population grew a lot. Because of this, the church's area was divided into three parts. The northern part kept the name Latton.

Building the Church

The original church was built a very long time ago, in 1087, during the Norman period. You can still see a Norman window in the south wall. The old Norman door arch is also visible above a door that is no longer used. The tall west tower was added by 1234.

Later Additions and Changes

In 1466, a special north chapel was finished. This chapel was built for Sir Peter Arderne. You can still see some old wall decorations there. The tomb of Sir Peter Arderne and his wife, Bohun, is between the chapel and the main part of the church. It has beautiful brass statues of them.

Bohun, wife of Sir Peter Arderne, from an old book.

Around 1562, the Altham family, who owned the nearby Mark Hall Estate, added the church porch. In the late 1500s, the tower and the west end of the church were rebuilt. Around 1800, the outside north wall of the church was covered with brick. The doorway and windows on that side were closed off and plastered over.

Many changes happened in the 1800s. The inside of the church was restored in 1848. Big repairs were made to the tower in 1873 and to the chancel (the area around the altar) in 1888.

Damage and Repairs

The church was damaged in 1945 by a V-1 flying bomb during World War II. This caused the loss of the beautiful stained glass windows on the south side. 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 decorated screen separating the chancel from the nave. People think the fire started from a workman's cigarette. Luckily, a person visiting a grave noticed the fire early. The church still needed a complete restoration in 1965. A new vestry (a room for clergy robes and church items) was built in 1971. The tower was repaired again in 1977.

The beautiful inside of St Mary's Church.

Important Monuments

The church has many monuments. These were built for members of the wealthy families who owned the Mark Hall Estate nearby.

Some of the monuments include:

• The tomb of Sir Peter Arderne and his wife, with brass statues from 1467.
• A brass monument from 1492, likely for Sir Peter's daughter Elizabeth and her husband, Richard Harper.
• An alabaster monument from 1583. It shows James Altham, his wife, and their 11 children kneeling.

There are also brasses for Frances Franklin (1604) and Emanuel Wolley (1617) and his wife Margaret (1635).

Sir Edward Altham has a fancy 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

A vicar is the priest in charge of a parish church. Many vicars have served St Mary's Church over the centuries.

Some Past Vicars

Here are a few of the priests who have served as vicar of St Mary's:

• c.1198: Roger and Anfred, who might have been joint rectors.
• c.1220–1234: Ernold, who sadly fell from the church tower in 1234.
• c.1358: Roger de Overe, the first known vicar.
• 1600–32: Rev. Thomas Denne.
• 1632–80: Rev. Thomas Denne Jr.
• 1705–30: Rev. Roger Altham.
• 1820–50: Rev. Joseph Arkwright.
• 1905–42: Rev. Austin Oliver.
• 2008–present: Rev. Lynn Hurry.