St Mary's Church, Micheldever facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| 51°8′56.8″N 1°16′6.1″W / 51.149111°N 1.268361°W | |
| OS grid reference | SU 513 391 |
| Location | Micheldever, Hampshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 5 December 1955 |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 6 |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Winchester |
St Mary's Church is a special old church located in Micheldever, a village in Hampshire, England. It's part of the Church of England, which is a Christian church. This building is very important, so it's officially protected as a Grade II* listed building. This means it has a lot of historical and architectural value. One of the most interesting things about St Mary's is its unique eight-sided main area, called the nave.
Contents
Discovering St Mary's Church
The oldest parts of St Mary's Church are from the 1200s. These parts are found near the tower, at the west end of the church. The church's tower was built much later, around the mid-1500s.
The main part of the church, the nave, is shaped like an octagon, which means it has eight sides. This part was built in 1808 using bricks. A famous architect named George Dance the Younger designed it.
A wealthy person named Francis Baring, 1st Baronet asked Dance to build it. Baring had bought the land in Micheldever a few years earlier. Dance's design for St Mary's was inspired by another church he designed in London.
A well-known expert on buildings, Nicholas Pevsner, once said the outside of the church looked "shockingly odd." He found it very unusual and simple for a church in the countryside.
The Chancel and Its History
The chancel is the part of the church where the altar is located. This section, along with its pointed archway, was added in the 1880s. Inside the chancel, you can find special memorials for members of the Baring family.
One memorial is for Harriet Baring, who passed away in 1804. A famous artist named John Flaxman created this beautiful monument in 1806.
Important Memorials
On the south wall of the church tower, there is a plaque that remembers Henri de Massue, Earl of Galway. He was an important person who lived from 1648 to 1720. He passed away nearby in East Stratton and was buried in the churchyard. However, the exact spot where he was laid to rest is not known today.
Another plaque on the south wall honors Vice Admiral Sir Norman Denning (1904–1979). He helped look after the church as a churchwarden and is also buried in the churchyard.
The Church Bells
The tower of St Mary's Church holds six bells. Five of these bells were first made in 1703. Later, in 1903, three of these original bells were remade, and a sixth bell was added to the collection.
