St Mary's Church, Welwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Parish Church of St Mary, Welwick |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed building |
| Style | Gothic (Early English, Decorated, and Perpendicular) |
| Years built | 13th-15th centuries and 18th century |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of York |
| Province | Province of York |
St Mary's Church is a beautiful old Anglican church located in the small village of Welwick in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It's considered a very important building and is listed as a Grade I listed building, which means it has special historical or architectural value.
Contents
A Look at St Mary's Church History
St Mary's Church has been around for a very long time! Parts of the church you see today were first built in the 13th century, which is over 700 years ago. Imagine all the history these walls have seen!
Most of the church was rebuilt and made bigger in the early 1300s. This was during a time when a popular style called Decorated Gothic was used for buildings. During this period, new sections like the aisles (walkways on the sides) and a clerestory (a row of windows high up) were added to the main part of the church, called the nave. The chancel, which is the area near the altar, was also made longer.
Later, in the 1400s, the church's tower was rebuilt in a different style called Perpendicular Gothic. Then, in the 1700s, the south porch, which is the entrance, was added using some of the original old stone. The church is mostly built from strong limestone, but the later porch and some other parts use brick.
Discovering the Church's Architecture
What Does the Outside Look Like?
When you look at St Mary's Church from the outside, you'll notice many interesting details.
- Windows: The windows in the main part of the church (the nave) have special stone patterns called tracery. These patterns were popular in the 1300s. Some windows are pointed at the top, some have a flatter arch, and some are even square-shaped. Builders in this area often used square windows, fitting the fancy tracery into them.
- Supports: You'll see strong stone supports called buttresses on the outside walls. These help hold the building up.
- High Windows: The clerestory (the upper part of the nave walls) has three windows on each side. These windows let in lots of light.
- Tower: The church tower, rebuilt in the 1400s, has two main levels. It has strong corner buttresses and windows for the bells at the top.
- South Porch: The entrance porch on the south side has a beautiful old doorway from the 1300s. Above the doorway, there's a lovely carved stone niche with a figure of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus. This carving is very old and was carefully placed into the newer brick porch built in the 1700s.
Exploring the Inside of the Church
Stepping inside St Mary's Church is like taking a trip back in time.
- Arches and Pillars: The main part of the church has tall arches supported by eight-sided pillars. These arches separate the central nave from the side aisles.
- Wooden Screen: There's a beautiful wooden screen, called a rood screen, that separates the nave from the chancel. It has five sections and was made in the 1400s. It was carefully fixed up in 1906.
- Font and Pulpit: The stone font, where baptisms happen, is also from the 1400s and has an old wooden cover from the 1700s. The pulpit, where sermons are given, is even newer, dated 1618.
- Wall Paintings: If you look closely at the walls high up in the clerestory, you might see faint remains of old paintings. These were painted after the Reformation, a big change in the church's history.
- Stained Glass: The large window at the very east end of the church has beautiful stained glass from 1877. It was made by a famous company called Clayton & Bell.
The Amazing Tomb
One of the most special things inside St Mary's Church is a very old tomb located in the south aisle. It's so old that it's partly built into the wall, and one side can even be seen from the outside of the church!
This tomb was made around 1340-1350 and is believed to be for a priest, possibly William de la Mare or his brother Thomas. It's incredibly detailed and shows amazing craftsmanship. You can see:
- Fancy stone patterns and carvings of leaves.
- Small figures of saints and angels.
- Symbols representing the Four Evangelists (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) and the Passion of Jesus (events leading to his crucifixion).
- Family symbols, called heraldry.
Under a special arched canopy, there's a stone statue of a priest wearing his church clothes. Experts believe this tomb was made by the same skilled artists who created the famous Percy tomb in Beverley Minster, another important church nearby. These artists were known for making beautiful sculptures and monuments for churches all over the region.
See Also
