St Mary's Church, Blymhill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Blymhill |
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View of St. Mary's Church, Blymhill from the north.
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Anglican |
| District | Diocese of Lichfield |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Parish church |
| Leadership | Linda Beech, Curate |
| Location | |
| Location | Blymhill, Staffordshire, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | George Edmund Street |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1859 |
| Materials | Sandstone |
St. Mary's Church, Blymhill is an Anglican church located in the small village of Blymhill, Staffordshire, England. This historic building is very old, first built in the 1300s! It has been fixed up and made bigger over the years, especially in the 1700s and 1800s. The church is known for its different styles of English Gothic architecture, like the Early English style in its south aisle, the Decorated Gothic style in its chancel (the area around the altar), and the Perpendicular Gothic style in its tower. It is also a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical site.
History of St. Mary's Church
There has been a church in Blymhill for a very long time. In the early days, before the 1100s, it was connected to a larger church called a collegiate church in Gnosall. St. Mary's was like a smaller "chapel of ease," a local church where people could go for services without traveling far.
Around the year 1200, Blymhill got its own separate "rectory." This meant it had its own priest, called a rector, and the local lord, William Bagot, gained the right to choose who would be the rector. We even have a full list of all the rectors who have served the church since that time!
The church building you see today was mostly built in the mid-1300s. It's believed to be on the same spot as the older chapel. The building was likely constructed when Stephen de Bromley was the rector, from about 1349 to 1379. There's an arched space outside the south wall of the chancel. This spot was often used for the tomb of the person who founded or built the church. Inside this space is a worn stone coffin, which many believe belongs to Bromley.
The church changed a lot around 1719. The original Gothic windows in the nave (the main part of the church) and the south aisle were replaced with large, round-headed windows, which were popular at the time. The picture on this page shows what the church looked like in 1797, after these changes.
Later, in 1858–1859, the church had a big "Victorian restoration." This was a time when many old churches were repaired and updated. An architect named George Edmund Street led this work. He brought back the Gothic windows and added new oak choir stalls, oak pews (benches), a pulpit (where the priest preaches), and a font (for baptisms).
During this restoration, many other big changes happened. The old gallery (a balcony) at the back of the church was removed. The north wall was taken down, and the church was made wider on that side, adding a new aisle. The old entrance through the tower was closed, and a new porch was built on the north side. New roofs were also put on the entire church.
After Street's restoration, the inside of the church was a bit too dark. So, in 1861, two new plain windows were added to the south wall to let in more light. In 1876, special "dormer windows" were built into the south aisle roof. Dormer windows are usually seen in houses, not often in churches!
St. Chad's chapel, located at the east end of the north aisle, was built much later, in 1936. It was a gift from Reverend E.R.O. Bridgeman. St. Chad was an important saint who is said to have preached near Blymhill in the 600s. He is also believed to have blessed a well at nearby Chadwell.
Notable Rectors
Here are some important rectors who served at St. Mary's Church:
- Samuel Dickenson (1777–1823) – He was a botanist, someone who studies plants.
- George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman (1853–1865) – He was an antiquary, meaning he studied old things and history.
See also
- List of Grade I listed buildings in Staffordshire
- Grade I listed churches in Staffordshire
- Listed buildings in Blymhill and Weston-under-Lizard
