St Mary's Church, Tyneham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Tyneham, Dorset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
St Mary's Church is an old Church of England church located in Tyneham, Dorset, England. It started being built in the late 1200s and has been changed and fixed up many times since then. Today, the church is looked after by the Ministry of Defence. It is now used as a museum and a special monument. The building is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historical site.
Contents
The Church's Story: From Old Times to Now
St Mary's Church has a long history, going back to the late 1200s. Parts of the main area, called the nave, and the north wing, known as the north transept, are from this very old time.
Early Changes and Fixes
In 1744, the nave and north transept were repaired. This included rebuilding the west wall of the nave. Later, in the early 1800s, the chancel (the area around the altar) and the arches of the north transept were rebuilt and made bigger.
A new south transept was added in 1832. This was designed by Benjamin Ferrey for the local priest, Rev. William Bond. It was just for the Bond family, who lived in Tyneham House. Around the same time, the south wall of the nave was rebuilt. In the 1870s, the chancel was rebuilt again, this time by George R. Crickmay. Around 1880, the church's south entrance porch was moved to its spot on the west side.
In 1902, the church got a new organ. It was built by Burton of Winchester. A man named William H. Bond gave it to the church. He did this to say thank you after his son, Lieutenant Algernon Bond, got better from injuries he got during the Siege of Ladysmith.
When the Army Took Over
In December 1943, during World War II, the village of Tyneham was taken over by the War Office. This was part of a plan to make their training area, the Lulworth Ranges, much bigger. The ranges were used by the Armoured Fighting Vehicles Gunnery School at Lulworth Camp.
When the army took over, some of the church's items were moved to keep them safe. The two bells, the reredos (a screen behind the altar), and the organ were moved to St Michael and All Angels church in nearby Steeple. The pulpit was sent to Lulworth Camp. Even though the army first said they would only use the village for a short time, they bought Tyneham for good in 1948.
The army agreed not to damage the church during their training. However, they could not promise it wouldn't get hit by accident. The church area was marked as a safety zone. Still, by May 1950, reports said the church had been hit twice, with some shells going through its roof.
Becoming a Museum and Monument
By the 1970s, many buildings in Tyneham village, like Tyneham House, were in ruins. But the church was still mostly okay. Its windows were boarded up, and the Army kept the inside tidy.
In 1975, Tyneham village started to open to the public on weekends and holidays. The Army then announced they wanted to use the church as a museum and a place for visitors to get information. In October 1979, the church held its first service since 1943.
After the village school was fixed up in 1994, the Ministry of Defence also repaired St Mary's Church. This work was finished by 2003. In December 2003, the church had a carol service to mark 60 years since the village was taken over. A service to remember people was also held in November 2012.
Today, St Mary's Church is a museum and a monument. It has displays about Tyneham's history. You can visit the church when Tyneham village is open to the public. The church is still owned by the Diocese of Salisbury, but the Ministry of Defence rents it for just £1 a year.
How the Church Was Built
St Mary's Church is built from different types of limestone. It has roofs made of slate and stone. The church has a cross shape when you look at it from above. It includes a nave (the main part), a chancel (the area near the altar), north and south transepts (the side wings), and a west porch (entrance).
Inside the Church
The roof between the nave and chancel has a small tower called a bell-cot. This is where two bells used to be. On the east wall of the north transept, there is a small basin called a piscina. This basin is very old, dating back to around 1300.
At the west end of the nave, there is a gallery from the 1700s. It has an oak-panelled front and a wooden panel with a quote from Psalm XCVI. Inside, you can see fixed wooden pews (benches) and a wooden pulpit from the 1600s. This pulpit was returned from Lulworth Camp. There is also a stone font (for baptisms) with a carved wooden cover. The church used to have two bells. One was made in Salisbury around 1500, and the other was made in 1784 by R. Wells of Aldbourne. Both bells have now been moved.
Memorials and Windows
The church has several memorials for the Bond family. On the north wall of the north transept, there is a monument from 1641. It remembers John Williams (who died in 1627) and his wife Jane (who died in 1636). Their grandson, John Williams, put it up. On the north wall of the nave, there is a black marble tablet for Elizabeth Tarrant, from 1769.
The chancel has a World War I memorial plaque. It lists the names of six men and was added in 1920. The walls of the nave and transepts have the names of the villagers who had to leave Tyneham in 1943. These names were added during the late 1900s by an artist named Lynda Price.
Some of the church's stained glass windows are from the early 1900s. They were made by Powell & Sons (Whitefriars) Ltd. The east window in the chancel was made by Martin Travers in 1924.
Why St Mary's is a Listed Building
St Mary's Church was named a Grade II listed building by Historic England in December 2020. This means it's a building of special historical or architectural interest.
They said the church is a "prominent and well-preserved building." It is also a "poignant reminder" of how much World War II affected this small village. Historic England also pointed out the church's interesting architecture. This includes how much of the original medieval (Middle Ages) building is still there. They also noted the "well-considered design and good-quality craftsmanship" of the south transept. The church's connection to famous architects like Benjamin Ferrey and George R. Crickmay was also highlighted.
