King's Lynn Minster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids King's Lynn Minster |
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King's Lynn Minster
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| OS grid reference | TF 61772 19806 |
| Location | King's Lynn |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | stmargaretskingslynn.org.uk |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | St Margaret's Parish Church, King's Lynn |
| Dedication | St Margaret of Antioch |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Groundbreaking | 1095 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of towers | 2 |
| Bells | 10 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Margaret with St Nicholas and St Edmund, King's Lynn |
| Deanery | Lynn |
| Archdeaconry | Lynn |
| Diocese | Diocese of Norwich |
King's Lynn Minster, also known as St Margaret's Church, is a very old and important church in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. It's part of the Church of England. This amazing building has been around since the 12th century, which means it's over 800 years old! It got its special title, "Minster," in 2011. The church is so important that it's a Grade I listed building.
Contents
History of the Minster
Early Beginnings as a Priory
The church was first built in 1095 by Herbert de Losinga, who was the Bishop of Norwich. It was made for a group of monks called Benedictine monks. The church was named after St Margaret of Antioch. This priory was connected to a larger priory in Norwich.
The church has two towers. The older, thinner tower on the south-west side was built in the 12th century. It's in a style called Early English Gothic. The bigger tower on the north-west side was built later, in the 15th century, in a style called Perpendicular. The main part of the church, called the chancel, was built in the 13th century. Some parts of the original 12th-century building can still be seen today.
Becoming a Parish Church
After a big change in England called the English Reformation, St Margaret's became the main church for the town of King's Lynn. Its land and money were then used to help Norwich Cathedral.
In 1741, a part of the church's roof and one of its spires fell down. This caused a lot of damage to the main area where people sit, called the nave. The church was rebuilt between 1745 and 1746 by an architect named Matthew Brettingham. He used an early Gothic revival style, which brought back older church designs. The church still has its medieval misericords, which are special seats that allowed monks to lean during long services.
In 2011, the Bishop of Norwich gave St Margaret's Church the special honorary title of King's Lynn Minster.
Church Bells
King's Lynn Minster has a set of 10 bells. The oldest bell is a small Sanctus bell from 1657. It was made by Thomas Norris. The main set of 10 bells rings in the key of C. The heaviest bell, called the tenor, weighs just over 28 long hundredweight (about 1,422 kilograms).
Here are the years when the bells were made and who made them:
- 1 Mears and Stainbank 1887
- 2 Mears and Stainbank 1887
- 3 Lester and Pack 1766
- 4 Lester and Pack 1766
- 5 Lester and Pack 1766
- 6 Lester and Pack 1766
- 7 Lester and Pack 1766
- 8 Mears and Stainbank 1893
- 9 John Taylor Bellfounders Ltd 2005
- 10 Lester and Pack 1766
The Organ
The church's organ was first put in place in 1754 by John Snetzler. A very famous music historian and composer named Charles Burney was the church organist for nine years, starting in 1751. The organ has been repaired and rebuilt many times since then. The most recent work on it was done in 2003 by Holmes and Swift. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Gallery
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A pew end
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The Sneztler organ case
