St Mary's Church, Fleet Marston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Fleet Marston |
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| OS grid reference | SP779159 |
| Location | Fleet Marston, Buckinghamshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 21 December 1967 |
| Architect(s) | George Gilbert Scott (restoration) |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone, roofs tiled |
St Mary's Church is a very old church in Fleet Marston, Buckinghamshire, England. It used to be a regular Church of England parish church, but now it is a "redundant church." This means it is no longer used for daily church services.
The church is a special building, listed as Grade II*. This means it is very important and protected. It is cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust. You can find the church in a field, about 2 miles (3.2 km) northwest of Aylesbury. A famous person named John Wesley preached his first sermon here in September 1725. He became a deacon (a type of church leader) just before that.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
This church is very old, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries (the 1100s and 1200s). It might even be built on the spot of an even older church. Some changes were made to the building in the 14th and 15th centuries.
In 1868, the church was "restored" by a famous architect named George Gilbert Scott. This means it was repaired and updated, a common practice during the Victorian era. St Mary's Church stopped being used for regular services on January 20, 1972. It was then officially given to the Churches Conservation Trust on October 24, 1973. This trust looks after old churches that are no longer in use.
Church Design and Features
St Mary's Church is built from rough, cut stones and has roofs made of tiles. The church stands on a raised base called a plinth. It also has strong supports called buttresses at its corners.
Parts of the Church
The church has a main area called a nave and a smaller section at the east end called a chancel. There's also a small entrance porch on the north side. At the very top of the west end, there's a small tower for a bell, called a bellcote.
- Windows: On the north wall of the nave, there's a large window with one light (one section of glass). There's also a restored window from the 15th century with two lights. The south wall has a window with four lights. The chancel has single-light windows on its north and east walls. On the south wall of the chancel, there's another single-light window, a two-light window, and a doorway.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you'll see an archway called the chancel arch. It connects the nave to the chancel and dates from the early 14th century. This arch is supported by semi-octagonal piers (strong columns). The tops of these piers, called capitals, are decorated with "ball flower" designs.
The roof of the church is from the 15th century. In a window-sill on the south side of the chancel, there's a piscina. This was a small basin used for washing sacred vessels. The font, where baptisms take place, has a round bowl on a simple base. It might be from the 13th century. You can also find memorial tablets inside the church, remembering people from the late 1700s and 1800s.
See also
