St Mary's Church, Longworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Longworth |
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| Location | Longworth, Oxfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Churchmanship | Central |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Years built | 13th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Longworth |
| Deanery | Vale of White Horse |
| Archdeaconry | Dorchester |
| Episcopal area | Dorchester |
| Diocese | Oxford |
St Mary's Church is a special old church in a place called Longworth, which is in Oxfordshire, England. It's part of the Church of England. This church is so important and old that it's been given a special protection status called a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most important historic buildings in the country!
History of St Mary's
The oldest parts of St Mary's Church were built a very long time ago, in the 13th century (which means the 1200s). Later, in the 15th century (the 1400s), more parts were added. These new parts included the main area near the altar called the chancel, the tall west tower, and a side section called the north aisle.
Church Bells
The church tower has a set of five bells that can be rung together. Three of these bells were made in 1662 by Richard Keene. Another bell was made in 1746 by Henry III Bagley. The last bell was made in 1807 by James Wells. The church also has a smaller bell called a Sanctus bell, which was made around 1890. Sadly, the five main bells cannot be rung right now.
A Protected Building
On November 21, 1966, St Mary's Church was officially named a Grade I listed building. This is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in England. It means the church is very important and needs to be carefully preserved for the future.
St Mary's Today
Today, St Mary's Church is still an active church. It is part of a group of churches called the benefice of Cherbury with Gainfield. This group is part of the Diocese of Oxford, which is a larger area of churches in the Church of England. St Mary's follows the "central tradition" of the Church of England, which means it has a balanced approach to its worship and beliefs.
Notable People
One important person who worked at St Mary's Church was J. R. Illingworth. He served as the Rector, which is like the main priest, from 1883 to 1915.
