St Mary's Church, Hitchin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Hitchin |
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St Mary's, viewed from the south-west
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 St Mary's Church, Hitchin
Location in Hertfordshire
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| 51°56′53″N 0°16′39″W / 51.94806°N 0.27750°W | |
| OS grid reference | TF 18371 29183 |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Central |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of St Albans |
| Diocese | Diocese of St Albans |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Mary's Church is a Church of England parish church located in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. It is the largest parish church in Hertfordshire. Its large size shows how much Hitchin grew because of the wool trade long ago.
The church you see today stands where two older churches once were. Most of the current building was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. The church tower is even older, dating back to around 1190. Since 1951, St Mary's Church has been a Grade I listed building. This means it is a very important historical site.
In 1911, workers found parts of an even older Saxon church while laying a new floor. These old foundations looked like a basilica-style church from the 7th century. Later, a larger chancel and transepts might have been added around the 10th century. These could be the remains of a Benedictine monastery. People believe this monastery was first built on this site by Offa, who was King of Mercia from 757 to 796.
History of the Church
In 910, the church and a nearby palace were burned down. The monks then left Hitchin for St Albans Abbey. Local people used stones from the ruined church to build a new parish church. The Domesday Book of 1086 lists St Mary's as the most important church in the area.
The church was partly destroyed in a big wind in 1115. After this, the nave had to be completely rebuilt. In 1292, lightning struck the church, causing a lot of damage. Six years later, in 1298, the middle part of the church collapsed due to an earthquake. In 1304, the roof fell in, possibly because it was weakened by the earthquake. This damaged monuments and special items inside. The church was rebuilt in 1305 using flint, rubble, and stone from Totternhoe. In 1220, nuns and Bishop Hugh of Lincoln helped set up a vicarage at the church.
The current church building was mostly built in the 14th and 15th centuries. It was first named after St Andrew. However, it became known as The Church of St Mary. This was because of a powerful group called the Guild of Our Lady, which started in the 15th century. The south porch, with its original door, was added around 1450. People say it is the "chief glory of the church."
Special Features
Some special features from the 15th century are still here today. The baptismal font is from about 1470. Around its base, figures of the Twelve Apostles were damaged. This happened during the English Civil War when Oliver Cromwell's soldiers stayed in the church. The pulpit is from about 1500. It no longer has its top cover, its 'wine-glass' base, or its clerk's desk.
The Angel Screen is thought to be one of the best in the country. On its eastern side, you can still see the stalls. These were used by the Guild of 'Our Blessed Lady St Mary the Virgin'. A sundial is on the southeast corner of the old tower. It was put there in 1660 to celebrate the return of King Charles II to the throne.
The church organ has three keyboards. It was built by J. W. Walker in 1871. John Stainer played it for the first time. The organ has been rebuilt three times since then, most recently in 1958. The organ's carved oak case was made by Laurence Arthur Turner and put in place in 1913.
Newer features include the altar rail. It has a tiny mouse carved into it. This is the special sign of Robert 'Mouseman' Thompson, who made it.
Notable Events
Funeral services for famous people have been held here. These include the conductor Sir Henry Wood. He passed away at the nearby Hitchin Hospital. Also, Reginald Hine, a lawyer and historian of Hitchin, had his funeral here.
In August 2015, windows at St Mary's Church were broken. Windows at St Paul's church in Letchworth were also damaged. The cost to fix the windows at St Mary's was £10,000.
Burials
Gallery
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The South Porch of St Mary's Church
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View from the side
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The Tower of St Mary's Church
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St Mary's church from the River Hiz
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The Angel Screen is considered one of the finest in the country
