St Mary's Church, Pitstone facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Pitstone |
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St Mary's Church, Pitstone, from the west
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| OS grid reference | SP 942 150 |
| Location | Pitstone, Buckinghamshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Founded | c.1250 |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 18 October 1966 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone and flint with some brick |
St Mary's Church is an old Anglican church in the village of Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, England. It is a very important building, listed as Grade I, which means it's super special! The Churches Conservation Trust takes care of it now. You can find it southeast of the village, about 14 kilometers (9 miles) east of Aylesbury.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
The oldest parts of St Mary's Church, like the chancel (the area around the altar) and the north chapel, were built around the year 1250. Some older carved stones from the 1100s show that there might have been an even earlier church on this spot.
Building Changes Over Time
Later in the 1200s, the north and south aisles (side sections) were added. In the 1400s, the chancel was made longer, and a north vestry (a room for clergy) and the church tower were built. The nave (main part of the church) also had some changes, with parts of its arches being rebuilt.
Restoration and Care
The church was repaired and updated in 1893, and again later in the 1900s. On January 23, 1973, the church was no longer used for regular services. It was then given to the Churches Conservation Trust on June 28, 1974, so they could look after it. A group called the Friends of Pitstone Church also helps care for the building. You can visit the church on Sunday afternoons during the summer. Sometimes, special events and services are held there too.
Architecture and Design
St Mary's Church is built using limestone and flint stones. Some parts of the walls, especially the upper nave walls and the north aisle, have a rough plaster finish. You can also see brick repairs on the chancel. The roofs are covered with lead.
Outside the Church
The church has a wide nave, which includes what used to be the south aisle. It also has a north aisle, a south porch, and a chancel with a chapel and vestry on its north side. There's a tall tower at the west end. The chancel is slightly angled towards the north.
The tower has three levels. It has strong corner supports called buttresses and a round stair turret on the southeast side. The top of the tower has a parapet with a battlemented (castle-like) edge. At the bottom of the tower, there's a doorway on the west side, with a window above it that has three sections. The middle level has narrow slit windows. The top level has two tall, narrow windows on the south side for the bells, and two-section windows on the other sides.
The south wall of the nave has a simple parapet and two three-section windows. There's also a part that sticks out on the east side, which was once a stairway to the rood loft (a gallery above the chancel arch). The south porch also has a simple parapet. Along the north aisle wall, you'll see buttresses, two narrow windows, and a doorway. The north chapel has a plain parapet and two windows in the Perpendicular style, which was popular in the 1400s. The vestry has a narrow window at its east end. The chancel is in the Decorated style (from the 1200s-1300s) with a brick parapet that has a stone top and a battlemented edge. It has a three-section window at the east end and three two-section windows in the south wall.
Inside the Church
Near the door in the south wall of the nave, there's a stoup (a basin for holy water). Next to it is the entrance to the stairs that led to the rood loft. In the east wall, there's a squint, which is a small opening that allowed people to see the altar. The north arcade has three sections with octagonal piers (strong columns).
In the north chapel, you can find a piscina (a basin for washing sacred vessels) with a fancy, pointed top. There's also a recess in the north wall and a fireplace from the 1800s in the northeast corner. The chancel floor is made of tiles from the 1300s and 1400s.
Special Features and Art
The font, used for baptisms, is very old, from the 1100s. It has a bowl and stem with decorative grooves. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is from the 1600s and has six sides with a "sounding board" above it to help the sound carry. The triangular reading desk is dated 1685. The altar table and the pews (church benches) are also from the 1600s; two of the pews are box pews, which are like enclosed seating areas. The communion rails, from the 1700s, have twisted balusters (small pillars).
The east window has beautiful stained glass from the 1800s. Inside the church, there's also a small brass plaque from the 1300s showing a female figure. Above the chancel arch, there's a painting of the royal arms from 1733. On either side of it are painted panels with the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer.
Music and Bells
The organ, which has one keyboard, was built in 1858 by A. W. Bryant. The church has a set of three bells, but they can't be rung anymore. The oldest bell was made in 1652 by Anthony Chandler, and the other two were made in 1786 by Robert Patrick.
See also
