St Mary's Church, Mildenhall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Mildenhall |
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St Mary's Church, Mildenhall
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| 52°20′34.04″N 0°30′33.05″E / 52.3427889°N 0.5091806°E | |
| OS grid reference | TL 71026 74598 |
| Location | Mildenhall, Suffolk |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | mildenhallanglicanchurches.org[Usurped!] |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 10 |
| Tenor bell weight | 16 long cwt 3 qr 23 lb; 1,899 lb or 861 kg |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Mildenhall |
| Deanery | Sudbury |
| Archdeaconry | Suffolk |
| Diocese | Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich |
St Mary's Church is a very old and important church located in Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. It belongs to the Church of England and is considered a special historical building. It has a "Grade I listed" status, which means it's one of the most important historic buildings in the country.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
Most of St Mary's Church was built a very long time ago, in the 1300s! That's over 700 years ago. A famous writer named Simon Jenkins thought it was so special that he gave it 4 stars in his book about England's best churches.
Important Memorials
Inside the church, you can find special memorials. These are like tributes or monuments to remember important people who lived long ago.
- Sir Henry Barton: He was the Lord Mayor of London in 1416 and 1428. His memorial is a cenotaph, which is a monument for someone buried elsewhere.
- Sir Henry North (died 1620): His tomb chest is made of alabaster and shows statues of him and his family.
- Roger North (died 1651) and Thomasina North (died 1661): They have wall tablets.
- Sir Henry North (died 1671): Another wall tablet for a different Sir Henry North.
- Sir Henry Warner (died 1617), Edward Warner, and Mary Warner (died 1601): They are remembered with a wall tablet.
- William Coe (died 1729): He was a diarist, and his memorial is a floor slab.
- Henry Bunbury (died 1722): His wall tablet is in the south aisle.
- Revd. John Hunt (died 1736): He has a wall tablet in the chancel.
Working Together: The Parish Team
St Mary's Church in Mildenhall is part of a larger group called the Mildenhall Team Ministry. This means it works together with several other churches in nearby villages.
- St Mary the Virgin's Church, Barton Mills
- St John's Church, Beck Row with Kenny Hill
- St Laurence & St Peter's Church, Eriswell
- St Andrew's Church, Freckenham
- St Ethelbert's Church, Herringswell
- St James's Church, Icklingham
- St Christopher's Church, Red Lodge
- St Mary & St Andrew's Church, Tuddenham with Cavenham
- St Andrew's Church, Cavenham
- St Peter's Church, West Row
- All Saints' Church, Worlington
The Church Bells
St Mary's Church has a set of 10 bells that can be rung together. The eight largest bells were made by a famous company called Whitechapel Bell Foundry between 1887 and 1913. In 1946, two new smaller bells were added. These new bells were made by Gillett & Johnston to celebrate the end of World War II and the return of peace. The bells hang in a strong frame made of steel and cast iron. This frame was put in place in 1914. The bell ringers at St Mary's are part of the Suffolk Guild of Ringers.
The Church Organ
The church also has a large pipe organ. It was built in 1865 by a well-known organ maker named Father Henry Willis. You can find more details about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register.
