St Mary's Church, Micheldever facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| 51°8′56.8″N 1°16′6.1″W / 51.149111°N 1.268361°W | |
| OS grid reference | SU 513 391 |
| Location | Micheldever, Hampshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 5 December 1955 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 6 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Winchester |
St Mary's Church is a special Anglican church located in Micheldever, a village in Hampshire, England. It belongs to the Diocese of Winchester. This church building is very important, so it is listed as a Grade II* building. What makes it really stand out is its unique eight-sided main area, called the nave.
Contents
What Makes St Mary's Church Special?
The oldest parts of St Mary's Church are from the 13th century. These older sections are found in the west part of the nave, right next to the tower. The church's tower was built later, around the mid-16th century.
The main part of the church, known as the nave, has a very unusual eight-sided shape. It was designed by a famous architect named George Dance the Younger. This part of the church was built in 1808. A wealthy man named Francis Baring, 1st Baronet asked for it to be built after he bought the land in Micheldever in 1801.
The design for St Mary's nave was inspired by another church in London. This was the Church of St Bartholomew the Less, also designed by George Dance. A well-known expert on buildings, Nicholas Pevsner, once said that the outside of St Mary's Church looks "arresting." He thought it was "shockingly odd" and "strange" to see such a unique building in a quiet countryside setting.
The Chancel and Its History
The chancel is the part of the church where the altar is located. The chancel and its pointed arch were added in the 1880s. Inside the chancel, you can find special memorials for members of the Baring family. One important memorial is for Harriet Baring, who passed away in 1804. She was the wife of Sir Francis Baring. This beautiful memorial was created by a famous artist named John Flaxman and put in place in 1806.
Important Memorials and Plaques
On the south wall of the church tower, there is a plaque that remembers Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway. He was born in 1648 and died in 1720. He passed away nearby in East Stratton and was buried somewhere in the churchyard. However, the exact spot of his burial is not known today.
Another plaque on the south wall honors Vice Admiral Sir Norman Denning. He lived from 1904 to 1979. Sir Norman was a churchwarden at St Mary's, which means he helped manage the church. He is also buried in the churchyard.
The Church Bells
The church tower holds six bells. Five of these bells were made in 1703. Later, in 1903, three of these older bells were remade. At the same time, a sixth bell was added to the collection.
