St Mary's Church, Weymouth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Church of England |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Weymouth, Dorset, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | James Hamilton |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Completed | 1817 |
St Mary's Church is a beautiful old church in Weymouth, Dorset, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church was built a long time ago, between 1815 and 1817. It's made from strong Portland stone. People often say it has a simple but grand design. Since 1953, it has been a special "Grade I listed building." This means it's very important historically and architecturally.
Christ Church was another church that helped St Mary's. It served the town from 1874 to 1939.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
A Church Through the Ages
There has been a church on this spot for a very long time. The first record of a small chapel here was in 1299. Later, in 1605, a new church was built. This new church became the main church for the area called Melcombe Regis in 1606.
Why build a new church? The old one at Radipole was too small. It was also hard for many people to get to. People also wanted a church closer to town for safety.
Royal Visits and Growing Needs
King George III often visited Weymouth. He used to attend services at St Mary's Church between 1789 and 1805.
By the early 1800s, the church was too small. It also needed many repairs. People started raising money in 1815 to rebuild it. They wanted a bigger church for everyone. Many people in Weymouth were not attending church because the old one was so small.
Building a New Church
Plans for a much larger church were drawn up. The architect was James Hamilton from Weymouth. The new church would be big enough for over 2,000 people. Many seats would be free for those who couldn't afford them. This was helpful for both local people and visitors.
In June 1815, a special law called an Act of Parliament was passed. This law allowed the church to be rebuilt. The first stone was laid on October 4, 1815. The Bishop of Salisbury, John Fisher, helped with this important event. The completed church opened on March 23, 1817. The Archdeacon of Dorset, William England, led the opening ceremony.
The church had a big renovation in 1922. This included rebuilding part of the north side of the church.
