St Mary's Church, Itchen Stoke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary, Itchen Stoke |
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| St Mary's Church, Itchen Stoke, Hampshire | |
The church of St Mary seen from the west
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| OS grid reference | SU 559 323 |
| Location | Itchen Stoke, Hampshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | [1] |
| History | |
| Founded | 1866 |
| Founder(s) | Rev. Charles Conybeare |
| Dedication | Saint Mary |
| Dedicated | 1866 |
| Consecrated | 1866 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 1 March 1972 |
| Architect(s) | Henry Conybeare |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1866 |
| Completed | 1866 |
| Construction cost | £7,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | brown and grey stone, slate roof |
St Mary's Church in Itchen Stoke, Hampshire, is a beautiful old church that is no longer used for regular services. It's an Anglican church, which means it belongs to the Church of England. This special building is protected as a Grade II* listed building by English Heritage, showing how important it is. The Churches Conservation Trust now looks after it, making sure it stays in good condition for everyone to enjoy.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
St Mary's is actually the third church to be built in the village of Itchen Stoke. The very first church was built a long time ago, before the year 1270. It was located near the River Itchen. Unfortunately, this old church got very damp and fell apart, so it was taken down around 1830. You can still find some small signs of it today.
Building the Second Church
The second church was built in the middle of the village. The land for it was given by Lord Ashburton. In 1857, a new church leader named Charles Ranken Conybeare arrived. He was the son of a famous geologist named William Daniel Conybeare. Charles Conybeare didn't like the second church much. He said it was cold and damp. He thought it would be cheaper to build a brand new church than to fix the old one.
A New Church for Itchen Stoke
Both the Bishop of Winchester and the new Lord Ashburton agreed to take down the second church. So, the church you see today was built in 1866 on the exact same spot. The person who designed this new church was Charles Conybeare's younger brother, Henry Conybeare. Henry was a civil engineer who was also very interested in Gothic architecture. He had even designed a church in India called the Afghan Church in Colaba, Mumbai. He also helped improve the water systems there.
Architecture and Design
A famous expert named Sir Nikolaus Pevsner once said that St Mary's is "serious and impressive" and "quite a remarkable church for its date." You reach the church by walking up a steep path from the main road. Its design was clearly inspired by the beautiful Sainte Chapelle in Paris.
Outside the Church
The church is built from brown and grey stone, with special limestone details. Above the main entrance door on the west side, there is a large round window called a rose window. This window was a gift from Lady Ashburton to remember her husband. At the east end of the church, there's a many-sided section called an apse. Its roof has pointed sections called gables, each with two-light windows that have fancy stone patterns.
The side walls of the church have four groups of three tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. The roof is very steep and covered with purple and grey-green slates arranged in a diamond pattern. Between the main part of the church (the nave) and the altar area (the chancel), there's a belfry that holds two bells.
Inside the Church
When you enter through the west door, you step into a wide entrance area called a vestibule. This area has three parts and a curved stone ceiling. Inside, you'll find a stone font that was saved from the previous church. Beyond the vestibule is the tall nave, which is the main part of the church where people sit. It has a timber roof.
The chancel and apse area is shaped like a half-octagon and has curved stone ribs and wall columns. It also has a vaulted stone roof. The five long, arched windows in this section have two lights and small rose windows. They are filled with small pieces of clear, red, blue, and green glass arranged in cool geometric patterns. The round floor is covered with shiny brown and green tiles laid out like a labyrinth, similar to the one found in Chartres Cathedral in France.
The furniture inside the church was made at the same time the church was built. It includes:
- A special font made from colorful vitreous enamel, shiny gilt bronze, and black Californian marble. Its design was inspired by the tomb of Mary of Burgundy in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges.
- A pulpit (where the speaker stands) with five carved panels that have cast iron scrollwork and leaf designs.
- Pews (church benches) that have ends similar to the panels on the pulpit.
See also
