St Mary Magdalene's Church, Caldecote facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary Magdalene's Church, Caldecote |
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St Mary Magdalene's Church, Caldecote, from the southwest
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| OS grid reference | TL 2367 3843 |
| Location | Caldecote, Hertfordshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Friends of Friendless Churches |
| History | |
| Dedication | Mary Magdalene |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 27 May 1968 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 14th century |
| Completed | 15th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 51 feet (15.5 m) |
| Width | 14 feet 6 inches (4.4 m) |
| Materials | Flint and clunch rubble, with some brick |
St Mary Magdalene's Church is an old Anglican church. It stands in a village called Caldecote in Hertfordshire, England. This village is now deserted, meaning no one lives there anymore. The church is no longer used for regular services. It is a very important historical building. It is listed as a Grade II* building, which means it's special. A group called the Friends of Friendless Churches takes care of it.
Church History
The church you see today was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. But there was probably an even older church here before that. Records show that rectors (church leaders) have been in this area since 1215.
The village of Caldecote became empty mostly during the 15th and 16th centuries. People moved away for different reasons. The church had some repairs in the 1700s. As fewer people lived in the area, the church was no longer needed for daily use. It was officially declared "redundant" in 1975.
In 1982, a charity called the Friends of Friendless Churches took over the care of the building. This charity helps to look after old churches that are no longer used. To help with the church's upkeep, a local group called the Caldecote Church Friends was started in 2007.
In 2021, the church was damaged by vandals. They poured bleach on the altar and emptied a fire extinguisher inside. They also threw rocks, breaking some of the old 14th-century windows.
Church Design and Features
St Mary's Church is built from flint and a soft stone called clunch. These materials were mixed with some bricks. The clunch stone came from a nearby quarry. Bricks were added later to fix parts where the clunch had worn away.
It's a small church with a main area called a nave and a chancel (the part where the altar is). These two parts are not separated by a wall. The church is about 51 feet (15.5 meters) long and 14 feet 6 inches (4.4 meters) wide.
At the west end of the church, there is a tower. It has two levels with strong supports called buttresses at the corners. The tower has windows from the 14th century. At the very top, there is a flat wall called a parapet.
On the east side of the tower, there is a lead plaque. It says "Katherine Morris 1736." This is unusual because it mentions a female plumber who worked on the church roof.
On the south side of the church, there is a porch built in the 15th century. The nave, chancel, and porch all have decorative battlements on their roofs. The windows in the nave and chancel are in a style called "Perpendicular Gothic."
Inside the porch, there is a special stone basin called a stoup. It has fancy carvings and a small roof over it. One expert said it is unique! The font, used for baptisms, is from the 15th century. It has eight sides with detailed carvings of patterns, shields, and leaves. The wooden benches inside the church are also from the 15th century. Even the round window at the east end is very old.
You can also find memorials inside. One is a kneeling figure of Rector William Makesey, who died in 1424. There is also a plaque remembering Thomas Inskip, 1st Viscount Caldecote.
