St George's Church, Stamford facts for kids
St George's Church is a very old and important church located in Stamford, a town in Lincolnshire, England. It is known as a Grade I listed building, which means it is a special historical building protected for its importance.
Contents
History of St George's Church
How the Church Was Built
A very important person who helped the church a lot was William Bruges. He lived from 1375 to 1450. William Bruges was the first Garter King of Arms. This was a special job for the Order of the Garter. He is buried right inside the church.
St George's Church says it was the first church connected to the Order of the Garter. This was a famous group of knights. The church used to have seven windows in the main part, called the chancel. These windows showed pictures of the Knights of the Garter.
Today, only a few pieces of these old windows are left. You can see some in the north chancel window. A few small parts are also in the south window. These include the middle parts of pictures of Saint Catherine and Saint Anne. William Bruges also gave the church its beautiful chancel roof. This roof has decorative angels carved into it. The angels in the middle on each side hold shields. These shields show symbols of the "Signs of the Passion." These are symbols like a pierced heart and wounded hands and feet, representing Christ.
Inside the Church
There are many special plaques inside the church. These are like small signs that remember people. One plaque remembers Tobie Norris, who passed away in 1626. A pub in Stamford is named after him. Another plaque remembers Blanche, Lady Wake, who died in 1379.
In the south side of the church, there is a beautiful stained glass window. It was made by Hugh Arnold in 1909. This window remembers an architect named John Charles Traylen.
The church's tower was probably built a long time ago, in the early 1200s. This was when the first rector, or priest, was officially chosen. Most of the tower is still the original structure. However, the very top part was rebuilt in the 1600s.
The main open area of the church, called the nave, has some original columns from the 1200s. Other parts of the nave were made bigger in the 1300s and 1400s.
Changes Over Time
The inside of the church was changed a lot during the Victorian era. This was a time when many old churches were updated. During this "Victorian restoration," old wooden benches were taken out. A new pulpit, which is where the priest speaks, was built. The floor was also redone.
In 1949, a company called Bowman & Sons made a special statue. It was a figure of Saint George and the Dragon. This statue was made by Mahomet Thomas Phillips. It was put in the church to remember those who served in the Second World War.
The Rectory Building
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The Rectory is the house where the church's rector lives. It is located at 16, St George's Square. This building was built in 1881. It was designed by an architect named Edward Browning. Besides being the rector's home, the house also operates as a bed and breakfast.
Rectors of St George's Church
Martyn Taylor is the current rector of St George's Church. He started this role in 2003. Before becoming the rector, he worked as a curate at the church from 1996 to 2003. This information comes from a special plaque on the church wall.
External Links
- St George's Church Website
