St Mary's Church, Old Amersham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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| Parish Church of Amersham | |
View of the church from the south.
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 St Mary's Church
Location in Buckinghamshire
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| 51°40′01″N 0°36′58″W / 51.6670°N 0.6161°W | |
| OS grid reference | SU9569797427 |
| Location | Amersham, Buckinghamshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Founded | c. 1140 |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Style | English Gothic |
| Years built | 13th, 14th centuries |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Amersham |
| Benefice | Amersham |
| Deanery | Amersham |
| Archdeaconry | Buckingham |
| Diocese | Oxford |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary's Church is a special old church in Old Amersham, Buckinghamshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is so important that it's listed as a Grade I building, meaning it's a very old and historic place.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The land where St Mary's Church stands has been important for Christians for a very long time. Early missionary monks, like St Augustine and St Birinus, traveled nearby. They used the old Roman Road called Akeman Street. These monks helped local people learn about Christianity. They also baptized them in the River Misbourne.
A place of worship has been on this spot since about 1140 A.D. The church you see today was first built in the 1200s. More parts were added in the 1300s and 1400s. This is when the church became larger.
Important Events
The area around the church has a sad but important history. In the early 1500s, a group of people called the Lollards lived here. They had different religious beliefs. Because of their beliefs, some locals, known as the Amersham Martyrs, were executed. This happened on the hill overlooking the old town. In 1931, a memorial was placed there to remember them.
In 1553, a Scottish religious leader named John Knox gave his last sermon in Amersham. He then had to leave England. This was to escape Queen Mary, who disagreed with his ideas.
The Drake Family
The Drake family has been very important to this church. They were the Lords of the Manor of Amersham. This family is related to the famous explorer Sir Francis Drake. Around 1637, Sir William Drake bought the area of Amersham.
You can find many memorials to members of the Drake family inside St Mary's Church. Some descendants of the Drakes even became rectors, or leaders, of the church. One of them was Rev. Edward Drake. He ordered a big repair and update of the church in 1890. The church's outside look today is mostly from that time.
The church tower still has bells that are rung regularly. On December 22, 1958, the church was officially named a Grade I listed building. This means it is a building of great historical and architectural importance.
St Mary's Church Today
Today, St Mary's Church is still an active part of the Church of England. It belongs to the parish of Amersham. This parish is part of the Archdeaconry of Buckingham. It is also part of the larger Diocese of Oxford. The church continues to serve the local community.
Gallery
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View of the church from the southwest.
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View of the gardens to the south of the church.
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The church tower from Church Street.
See also
- Amersham Museum, also in Old Amersham
