St Mary's Church, Woburn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary’s Church, Woburn |
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St Mary’s Church, Woburn
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| 51°59′23.03″N 0°37′2.76″W / 51.9897306°N 0.6174333°W | |
| OS grid reference | SP 95040 33273 |
| Location | Park Street, Woburn, Bedfordshire MK17 9PG |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | woburnparishchurch.org.uk |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | 8th Duke of Bedford |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Consecrated | 23 September 1868 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | Henry Clutton |
| Construction cost | £30,000 (equivalent to £1,930,000 in 2021) . |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 148 feet (45 m) |
| Nave width | 64 feet (20 m) |
| Height | 61 feet (19 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Woburn |
| Deanery | Ampthill and Shefford |
| Archdeaconry | Bedford |
| Diocese | St Albans |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary's Church in Woburn is a beautiful old church. It is a parish church for the local community. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is also a special historic building. It is known as a Grade II* listed building. This means it is very important and protected.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
Building the Church
The church you see today was built a long time ago. Work started in 1865 and finished in 1868. The famous architect Henry Clutton designed it. A very important person, the 8th Duke of Bedford, William Russell, paid for the whole church. It cost about £30,000 back then. This new church replaced an older one in Woburn. Only the tower of the old church was kept.
The Giant Bell
The church tower has a huge bell inside. When it was first put in, people said it was the biggest bell in any parish church! It weighed about 55 hundredweight, which is over 6,000 pounds (about 2,790 kilograms). This massive bell was made in London by a company called Mears and Stainbank.
The Tall Spire
When the church first opened, it had a very tall spire on top of its tower. The spire reached up to 181 feet (about 55 meters). At the very top, there was a copper cross. This cross made the total height of the church about 195 feet (about 59 meters). However, the spire had some problems. Because of these issues, it had to be taken down in 1890.
Church Opening and Special Windows
The church was officially opened and blessed on September 23, 1868. This special ceremony is called a consecration. It was performed by the Bishop of Ely, Harold Browne. Later, in 1894, a beautiful stained-glass window was added. This window is in the east part of the church. It was put there to remember the 10th Duke of Bedford, George Russell. A famous artist named Charles Eamer Kempe created this stunning window.
The Church Organ
Churches often have large musical instruments called organs. St Mary's Church had an organ installed in 1868. It was made by T.J. Robson. Later, in 1904, a new and improved organ was put in. This one was built by a company called Norman and Beard. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
