St Mary's Church, South Stoneham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary's Church, South Stoneham |
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| Church of St. Mary | |
St Mary's Church, South Stoneham
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 St. Mary's Church, South Stoneham
Location in Southampton
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| 50°56′12″N 1°22′31″W / 50.93656°N 1.37530°W | |
| Location | Swaythling, Hampshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Parish of Swaythling |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Listed building - Grade I |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Swaythling |
| Deanery | Southampton |
| Archdeaconry | Bournemouth |
| Diocese | Winchester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St. Mary's Church, South Stoneham is one of the two oldest churches in Southampton, England. Parts of this church are from the Norman period. The arch in the chancel (the area around the altar) dates back to the 12th century. The church is in a quiet spot near the Southampton University campus. It is almost hidden among the university buildings.
Contents
History of the Church and Area
The South Stoneham Parish
The original area of South Stoneham was very large. It covered over 8,000 acres (about 32 square kilometers). This area stretched along the eastern side of the River Itchen. It went from where Eastleigh is today in the north, down to just above Northam Bridge in the south. It also included Swaythling and parts near the old town of Southampton.
In the Domesday Book, a very old record from 1086, the church at South Stoneham belonged to Richer the clerk. He also owned two other churches near Southampton. The area was called "Stanham" back then.
Later, by the 1500s, South Stoneham church was connected to St. Mary's Church, Southampton. Both churches were overseen by the Bishop of Winchester. The right to choose the priest for South Stoneham then belonged to the head priest of St. Mary's, Southampton. This continued until the early 1900s.
As Southampton grew, much of the South Stoneham area became part of new local parishes. The remaining parish around the church and Swaythling village was about 1,300 acres (about 5 square kilometers).
Today, this church is part of the Swaythling parish. This larger parish also includes other areas like the "Flower Roads" and Mansbridge. The main church for the parish is now St. Alban's Church, Southampton, built in 1933. The current vicar for both churches is the Revd Peter Dockree.
Building the Church Through Time
Parts of St. Mary's Church are very old, dating back to the Norman period. The oldest part still standing is the chancel, which was built in the 12th century. The arch in the chancel is also from this time. The large window at the east end of the chancel was added in the 15th century.
The main part of the church, called the nave, was built in the 13th century. The church tower was added later, in the late 15th century.
In 1728, the north transept (a part of the church that sticks out) was rebuilt. It was made to hold a large monument for Edmund Dummer. This monument was likely designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. The Dummer family were important people in Swaythling. Another monument in the nave links to the Sloane family, who lived at South Stoneham House.
The south transept was built during a big renovation in 1854. This work also included adding the current gallery inside the church.
Exploring the Church Exterior
The church is made of stone with a tiled roof. It has a chancel, a nave, two aisles, two small transepts, and a tower at the west end. The tower, built in the late 15th century, has small windows for the bells. It also has a wall on top with a pattern like castle battlements.
On the south side of the tower, there is a sundial from 1738. It has a message: "So Flies Life Away." Inside the tower are three bells. They were made in 1880, but some say two of them are even older, from 1603 and 1619. Above the main door on the west side, there is a small space that was probably for a statue of Mary and baby Jesus.
The churchyard has old gravestones from the 1700s and 1800s. These stones have interesting carvings like angels, skulls, and hourglasses. The wall around the churchyard on the north side is also a very old, listed building. It was built in the early 1700s with red bricks.
Notable Burials
Some important people are buried in the churchyard. One example is Henry Bromfield, who was a Member of Parliament for Lymington. He was buried here in 1683.
Inside the Church
The church has a chancel and a nave, with smaller north and larger south transepts. The chancel is about 24 feet long and 15 feet wide. The nave is about 52 feet long and 20 feet wide. The chancel arch and some of the walls in the nave are from the 12th century.
The large east window in the chancel is from the 15th century. It has three sections with a leaf-like design. In the north wall, there are three single windows. The middle one is higher and round-headed, from the 12th century. The two narrow windows next to it are from the 13th century.
The chancel arch is decorated with carvings. The nave has two windows on the north side and one on the south. It also has a gallery at the west end. The north transept has modern windows. The south transept has a tall arch that looks like it's from the 12th century, but it's more recent.
The gallery holds a small organ built in 1857. There's also a "dumb organist" from the same time. This device could play hymn tunes by turning a handle. It's very rare, with only a few like it still existing.
The Font
The font, used for baptisms, is in the north-east part of the nave. It is made of Purbeck marble and dates from around 1180. It has a square bowl with four round-headed arches carved on each side. The top of the bowl has leaf patterns. The bowl sits on a central pillar and four smaller pillars.
Monuments and Memorials
Above the chancel arch, you can see the royal coat of arms of King Charles II, dated 1660. On the south side of the chancel is the tomb of Edmund Clerke, who worked for the King. He died in 1632. His tomb shows him and his wife kneeling, with figures of their four sons and eight daughters below.
The north wall of the north transept is covered by a large marble monument for Edmund Dummer (1663–1724). Many members of the Dummer family were buried here. Their family crypt (an underground burial vault) was beneath the church. However, it often flooded from the nearby River Itchen. In the 1960s, the crypt was filled in to solve this problem.
Other Special Items
The church has some beautiful silver items, including a cup from 1630. It also has a bible from 1572 and a shepherd's crook said to be over 300 years old.
St. Mary's Church is also home to the University of Southampton's portable campanile. This is a set of 12 bells made in 1999.
Restoration Work
In October 2008, the church announced plans for a big restoration project. It was expected to cost £150,000. The vicar at the time, Rev. Gary Philbrick, said the church is "a little gem" and "one of Southampton’s best kept secrets." The goal was to fix problems from a restoration done about 100 years ago.
Victorian builders had used cement-based mortar on the medieval stonework. This caused the stone to crack and let in dampness. The plan was to replace it with lime-based mortar. This type of mortar lets the building "breathe" and helps preserve the old stone.
The restoration work included:
- Replacing the cement mortar in the tower with lime mortar. This stops dampness and protects the stone.
- Replacing lead flashings on the roofs to stop water leaks. New tiles and repairs to gutters were also needed.
- Repairing damaged stonework, especially around the old Norman West Door and some windows.
- Removing an old boiler house and moving the boiler to a different room.
- Redecorating the inside of the church.
The restoration work was done by HGP Architects, with Michael Underwood as the main architect. He specializes in conservation.
See also
- Listed buildings in Southampton
Images for kids
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St Mary's Church, South Stoneham
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St. Mary, South Stoneham
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Memorial to Edmund Dummer
