St Mary's Church, Ickworth facts for kids
Ickworth Church, also called St Mary's Church, Ickworth, is an old church in Ickworth Park. It is located near Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, England. This church used to serve the local community.
Contents
A Look Back at Ickworth Church
How Ickworth Church Began
Ickworth Church stands close to Ickworth House, a grand estate now cared for by the National Trust. The church once served a village called Ickworth, but that village no longer exists. As the Ickworth Estate grew, the church became mainly used by the people who lived and worked at Ickworth House and its park.
The Hervey Family's Connection
The church is also the main burial place for the Hervey family. This important family owned and lived at Ickworth for a very long time. They were there from the mid-1400s until 1998.
What Ickworth Church Looks Like
Church Building Details
The church building itself is very old, dating back to the Middle Ages. However, it had many big changes made to it in the 1800s. The oldest part, the chancel, was built in the mid-1200s. The north doorway of the main part of the church (the nave) is from the 1200s or 1300s.
Inside the Church
Inside, you can see a window in the chancel that was fixed in the 1400s. There is also a simple, eight-sided stone font from the 1400s. The pulpit, where sermons were given, is from the 1600s. Around 1775, it was changed into a "three-decker" style with railings.
Memorials and Art
The church has many marble slabs on the walls and floors. These are from the 1600s and 1700s. Many of them have carvings for members of the Hervey family. There are also wall tablets in the nave for the Hervey family and others. On the east wall of the chancel, you can see a red-line painting from the 1400s. It shows the angel of the Annunciation. The church also has round pieces of painted Flemish glass from the 1300s to the 1800s.
The Hervey Family Burial Place
Resting Place for Generations
The Hervey family owned Ickworth for nearly 500 years. Many of them are buried in a special vault under the church. Others are buried in the churchyard outside. The first Hervey family member buried here was Thomas Hervey, who passed away in 1467. He was the first of his family to own Ickworth.
Notable Burials
After Thomas, almost every Earl and Marquess of Bristol from the family was buried here. Many of their daughters and wives were also laid to rest in this church. For example, the 6th Marquess passed away in 1985. He was first buried in Menton, France, for 25 years. However, in October 2010, the 8th Marquess had him reburied in the vault at Ickworth Church.
The Ickworth Church Conservation Trust
Protecting the Church's Future
The Ickworth Church Conservation Trust (ICCT) was created to make sure Ickworth Church would be safe for the future. The 8th Marquess of Bristol set up this trust in 2006.
Restoration Efforts
His half-brother, the 7th Marquess, bought the church in 1986. This happened after the Church Commissioners decided it was no longer needed in the 1970s. After being bought, the church started to fall apart. The 8th Marquess then transferred ownership of the church to the ICCT. He is also a Trustee and the Chairman of the Trust. The church has now been fully restored. This big project cost £1.2 million. Today, Ickworth Church is open for everyone to visit.
