St Mary's Old Church, St Mary's facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Old Church, St Mary's |
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St Mary's Old Church, Old Town, St Mary's
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| 49°54′39″N 06°18′13″W / 49.91083°N 6.30361°W | |
| OS grid reference | SV911101 |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | https://www.ioschurches.co.uk/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St Mary's, Isles of Scilly |
| Deanery | Powder |
| Diocese | Truro |
| Province | Canterbury |
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St Mary's Old Church is a special church in Old Town, located on the beautiful island of St Mary's. This island is part of the Isles of Scilly, which are off the coast of Cornwall in the United Kingdom. It's a Church of England parish church, meaning it serves the local community.
Contents
History of the Church
Building St Mary's Old Church
The Anglican church of St Mary was first built in Old Town, Isles of Scilly, a very long time ago. Historians believe it was built around the year 1130, during the 12th century.
Changes Over Time
The church has been rebuilt and improved many times. Between 1660 and 1667, parts of the church were rebuilt. A new south aisle was added, and a special gallery was built at the west end for soldiers from the nearby Garrison. More improvements were made in 1743 when the east end of the church was rebuilt.
By the 1800s, the church was in poor condition. Augustus Smith, who was in charge of the Isles of Scilly at the time, ordered it to be restored. This means it was repaired and brought back to good condition.
The Churchyard and Its Stories
A Resting Place for Many
The churchyard around St Mary's Old Church is the main cemetery for the island of St Mary's. For hundreds of years, many people from old Scilly families have been buried here. It's also the final resting place for sailors from many ships that were lost near the Isles of Scilly.
Famous Burials
- Sir John Narborough's Sons: Among those buried here are Sir John Narborough and his brother James. They were the sons of a famous Rear Admiral, Sir John Narborough. Both brothers died when their ship, HMS Association, sank in 1707.
- Ann Cargill: An opera singer named Ann Cargill (1760–1784) is also buried here. She was known for her beauty and singing in the 18th century. Ann died when her ship sank off the Western Rocks. She was first buried on another island called Rosevear, but later moved to Old Town Church.
- Harold Wilson: One of the most famous people buried in the churchyard is Harold Wilson. He was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom twice, from 1964 to 1970 and again from 1974 to 1976. Harold Wilson loved holidaying in the Scillies and even had a holiday home there. He spent much of his retirement on the island. In 2018, his wife Mary's ashes were also placed in his grave.
- Augustus Smith: There is a monument in the churchyard for Augustus Smith (1804–1872). He was the Lord Proprietor who ordered the church's restoration.
- SS Schiller Victims: The churchyard also has mass graves for passengers who drowned when the ship SS Schiller sank in 1875.
- Ray Gunter: Ray Gunter (1909–1977), a Member of Parliament (MP) and a government minister under Prime Minister Harold Wilson, is buried here.
- Lieutenant Roy Graham: Lieutenant Roy Graham (1924–2007) is also buried in a newer part of the cemetery. He led a diving trip in 1967 that found the wreck of Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell's ship, HMS Association.
Churchyard Layout
The churchyard has been made bigger and changed several times over the years. The oldest part of the cemetery is right around the church. During the 1800s, terraces (flat areas cut into the hillside) were made to create more space for burials.
Churches of the Isles of Scilly
St Mary's Old Church is part of a group of churches called the United Benefice of the Isles of Scilly parishes. This group includes:
