St Mary-le-More, Wallingford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary-le-More |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Church of St Mary-le-More
Location in Oxfordshire
|
|
| 51°35′59″N 1°07′30″W / 51.5996°N 1.1249°W | |
| Location | Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade 2 listed |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic revival |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Dorchester on Thames |
| Diocese | Oxford |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary-le-More is an old and important Church of England parish church. It is located in Wallingford, Oxfordshire, England. You can find the church right in the middle of The Marketplace. It sits just behind the Town Hall.
History of St Mary-le-More Church
St Mary-le-More church has been around for a very long time. Records show it existed by the year 1077. Back then, a big abbey called St Alban's Abbey was in charge of the church.
The church's west tower was first built in the 1100s. Later, around 1653, the top parts of the tower were rebuilt. They were made in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. This style has tall, straight lines and big windows.
The main part of the church, called the nave, and its side areas, called aisles, were built in the 1200s and 1300s. The chancel, which is the area near the altar, was built a bit later. However, all these parts were rebuilt in 1854. This was done by an architect named David Brandon. He used a style known as Gothic Revival. This style brings back the look of old Gothic churches.
Inside the church today, you can see some beautiful features. The west window in the north aisle has stained glass from 1856. It was made by an artist named Thomas Willement. The pulpit, where sermons are given, was made in 1888. It was created by the sculptor Onslow Ford. St Mary-le-More is a Grade II* listed building. This means it is a very important historical building.
Modern Updates and Changes
Between 2009 and 2010, the church had some big updates. These changes made the building more modern and welcoming. New heating was put under the floor, and the floor tiles were replaced. Two new restrooms were added, including one for people with disabilities. This restroom also has a baby changing area.
A small kitchen was also installed in the north aisle. It has a sink, fridge, and dishwasher. This makes it easier to host events. The church also made it easier for everyone to get around. Ramps and level floors were added for wheelchair access. A sound and video system was put in too. This system is used for services, concerts, and other events.
The Lady Chapel, a special quiet area, was moved to a new spot. It is now near the main altar. This area is a peaceful place for visitors. The main altar, used for services, is now in the center of the nave. It can be moved if needed for concerts or other events.
A new meeting room was created high up in the church tower. You can reach it by a new staircase. This room is great for small gatherings. Most of the old wooden pews were replaced with lighter, movable chairs. However, some special pews were kept. These are used by the Mayor of Wallingford and the Town Council during important events.
Since 2010, the church has added more special items. One notable addition is a wall banner. It shows the different seasons of the church year. Members of the church made these banners between 2017 and 2019.
Church Bells
The tower of St Mary-le-More has a set of 10 bells. These bells are used for Change ringing, a special way of ringing church bells. Eight of these bells were made in 1738. They were cast by Richard Phelps and Thomas Lester. They worked at a famous place called the Whitechapel Bell Foundry.
In 1887, one of the bells was recast by the same foundry. This was done in the year of Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. Then, in 2003, the Whitechapel Bell Foundry made two new bells. This brought the total number of bells to 10.
