St Mary's Church, Handsworth, Sheffield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary the Virgin, Handsworth |
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The church from the south
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| OS grid reference | SK 41050 86204 |
| Location | Handsworth, South Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
| Website | St Mary the Virgin S13 9BZ |
| History | |
| Status | church |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Designated | 28 June 1973 |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 12th to 19th centuries |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Materials | stone |
| Bells | 8 |
| Tenor bell weight | 12 long tons 0 cwt 2 qr (26,940 lb or 12.22 t) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary the Virgin, Handsworth |
| Diocese | Sheffield |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is a very old church in Handsworth, South Yorkshire, a part of Sheffield, England. It's a Church of England parish church, meaning it's part of the main Christian church in England. You can find it about 3.5 miles east of Sheffield city centre. This historic building has been a place of worship for hundreds of years.
Contents
A Look at St Mary's Church History
St Mary's Church has a long and interesting past. It was first built a very long time ago, around the year 1170.
Who Started the Church?
The church was originally a Norman building. It was started by a Norman lord named William de Lovetot, or maybe his father, Richard. The plans for the church were drawn up by William Paynel.
Adding St Katherine's Chapel
In the 1220s, a special part called St Katherine's Chapel was added. This chapel was likely built for Maud de Lovetot. She wanted prayers and Mass to be offered there for her husband, Gerard de Furnival. It might also have been for their son, Thomas de Furnival, who died during a crusade (a religious war) in Jerusalem.
Rebuilding the Church
By 1472, reports from York said the church was falling apart. But it was already being rebuilt! Important families, like the Earls of Shrewsbury, helped fix a lot of the damage during the Tudor period.
Lightning Strikes and Repairs
Lightning hit the church spire in 1698. The new steeple built after that was much smaller. People even called it "the Handsworth stump." In the 1820s, this "stump" was taken down, and a new, taller tower was built. Lightning struck the tower again in January 1978, but it didn't cause as much damage that time. The spire, clock, and bell tower were all fixed up in 2002.
Church Bells
The church has a set of eight bells in its west tower. These bells are used for Change ringing, a special way of ringing church bells in a pattern. A company called John Taylor & Co from Loughborough made and re-hung all eight bells in 1920. There's also an older service bell, which was made in 1590.
What is a Listed Building?
St Mary's Church is a Grade II listed building. This means it's a very important historic building. It has special protection to make sure it is preserved for the future.
The Old Rectory Building
The rectory was the home where the church's rector (a type of priest) lived. The original Tudor rectory was where the Parish Centre is now. It was made from wood.
Changes to the Rectory
In the late 1600s or early 1700s, a bigger, more modern rectory was built close to the church. Soon after, another part was added to it. Not much of the original Tudor rectory is left today. However, some parts were used in the new building. You can still see a piece of the old straw and mud wall in the museum part of the building. There's also an oak tree post in the reception hall.
Most of the old outhouses (small buildings outside the main house) were taken down. The coach house and stable block were kept and updated in the Victorian era.
The Chantry Inn
Right next to St Mary's Church, you'll find the Chantry Inn. This building was put up in the mid-1200s.
From Church House to Pub
It was first used as a church house for the chaplains (priests) and clerks who worked at St Mary's. After the Reformation (a big change in the church), the house became a school. Then, around 1804, it was turned into a public house, which is what we call a pub today.
Church Records
The church has old records called parish registers. These books list all the baptisms (when people are welcomed into the church), marriages, and funerals that happened at St Mary's. These records go all the way back to 1558! The registers were kept continuously until 1836, when a new way of keeping records was started.
Images for kids
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The church from the south
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Weathercock on top of the spire
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Handsworth war memorial, on the churchyard boundary facing Handsworth Road
