Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wellingborough facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin |
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Interior of St Mary's Church
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| Location | Knox Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 1PX |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Architect(s) | Sir Ninian Comper |
| Architectural type | Perpendicular Gothic |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary the Virgin Wellingborough |
| Deanery | Wellingborough |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Northampton |
| Diocese | Diocese of Peterborough |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a beautiful and important church in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England. It is a parish church that belongs to the Church of England. This church is so special that it has been given a Grade I listed building status. This means it is one of the most historic and important buildings in the entire country!
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Building a Special Church
The Church of St Mary the Virgin was built over many years, from 1908 to 1930. It was designed by a famous architect named Sir Ninian Comper. He created the church in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. This style is known for its tall windows and detailed stone work.
The way the church looks inside and out was inspired by two important movements. These were the Oxford Movement and a Victorian-era movement called the "revival of ritualism." These movements focused on making church services more traditional and beautiful. A lot of the money to build this amazing church came from two sisters, the Misses Sharman, who lived in Wellingborough.
In 1970, St Mary's Church was officially recognized as a Grade I listed building. It is quite rare for a building from the 20th century to get this high status. This shows just how special and well-designed it is.
St Mary's Church Today
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Today, the parish of St Mary the Virgin Wellingborough is part of the Anglican Diocese of Peterborough. This is a larger area that helps organize churches in the region.
St Mary's Church follows an Anglo-Catholic tradition within the Church of England. This means their services and beliefs are similar to those of the Roman Catholic Church, but they are still part of the Church of England. The church has decided not to have women as priests. Because of this, they receive special support from the Bishop of Richborough. The church also works with groups like Forward in Faith and The Society.
Important People at St Mary's
Many dedicated clergy members have served at St Mary's Church over the years. One notable person was Michael Bent, who worked here from 1955 to 1960. He later became a very important church leader in New Zealand and Fiji.
Past Leaders of the Church
Here is a list of the vicars, or main priests, who have led St Mary's Church:
- 1905-1928: Fr Thomas Watts
- 1929-1946: Fr Conrad Radford
- 1947-1952: Fr Rowland Taylor
- 1952–1966: Fr Raymond Brown
- 1967–1988: Fr Thomas Finch SSC
- 1990–1994: Fr Alan Robinson (he was a priest in charge)
- 1996–present: Fr Robert Farmer SSC (he was a priest in charge from 1996–2000, and has been the vicar ever since)
