St Mary Magdalene's Church, Stapleford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary Magdalene's Church, Stapleford |
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St Mary Magalene's Church, Stapleford,
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| OS grid reference | SK 811 182 |
| Location | Stapleford Park, Leicestershire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Robert Sherard, 4th Earl of Harborough |
| Dedication | Saint Mary Magdalene |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 1 January 1968 |
| Architect(s) | George Richardson |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1783 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Limestone |
St Mary Magdalene's Church is an old Anglican church located near the village of Stapleford in Leicestershire, England. It is a very important building, listed as Grade I, which means it's protected for its special history and architecture. The Churches Conservation Trust takes care of it. You can find it on the beautiful grounds of Stapleford Park.
Contents
History of the Church
This church was built in 1783. A famous architect named George Richardson designed it for Robert Sherard, who was the 4th Earl of Harborough. It took the place of an older church that stood there before. This church served as the Sherard family's private church on their estate, and also as the main church for the local area. The church was repaired and updated in 1931 and again in 1967.
Church Design and Features
Outside the Church
St Mary's Church is built from limestone blocks and is designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style brings back the look of medieval Gothic buildings. The church has a main area called a nave with three sections. It also has north and south transepts (parts that stick out like arms), a chancel (the area around the altar), and a tower at the west end that includes a porch.
The tower has three levels and sits on a decorative base. It has carved bands and edges, including one with designs that look like Romanesque art. The top of the tower has a battlement (like a castle wall) and pointed decorations called pinnacles at each corner.
At the bottom of the tower, there's a doorway with a Tudor arch (a flattened arch). Above this is a window with two lights (sections) and a pointed arch. There are similar windows on the north and south sides of the tower, each with a round window below it. The middle level of the tower has a round design on each side, with a clock face on the west side. The top level has double lancet windows (tall, narrow windows) where the bells are.
The main part of the church (nave) has three windows on each side. These windows have three lights and pointed arches. At the west end, there's a decorative niche (a shallow alcove) above a round design on each side. The transepts have plain walls and a large, blank four-light lancet window in each gable (the triangular part of the wall). The side walls of the chancel are plain. At the east end, there's a four-light lancet window with horizontal bars called transoms. On each side of this window is a niche.
Above the east window, you can see a coronet (a small crown) carved in high relief (meaning it stands out a lot). There's also a stone with the year "1783" carved into it. All around the outside of the church, you'll find carved heraldic shields. These shields show the arms of families who married into the Sherard family.
In the churchyard, some notable people are buried, including the Barons Gretton and Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Eveleigh-de-Moleyns, 5th Baron Ventry.
Inside the Church
The porch inside the tower has an eight-sided vaulted ceiling with a carved boss (a decorative centerpiece). The main part of the church (nave) has a plaster ceiling that curves upwards. It has decorative edges, fluted (grooved) supports, and a pattern of diamond shapes.
At the west end, there's a wooden gallery (a raised platform) with panelled walls. In the west wall of the gallery, there's a fireplace made of Coade stone (a special type of artificial stone). Above the fireplace, you can see the Royal arms (the symbol of the British monarchy) on a round design. The ceiling here also has diamond patterns and a central oval dome decorated with putti (small, winged figures).
On the north and south walls of the transepts, there are round designs showing doves. At the east end of the chancel, there's a decorative base and a carved band. In the center is a marble reredos (a screen behind the altar) with an anchor design. It has a triangular top and a decorative urn. On each side of the east window, there are double lancet boards with the Ten Commandments written on them.
The church has wooden seats called stalls arranged along the north and south sides of the nave. The pulpit (where sermons are given) is eight-sided and panelled. The font (a basin for baptisms) has a marble bowl on a wooden stand.
Most of the memorials inside the church were moved from the older church that stood here before. The oldest memorial is a brass (a metal plate with an engraving) from 1490, dedicated to Geoffrey Sherard and his wife. There's also a black and white marble tomb from 1640. This tomb has two life-sized statues of people lying down and carvings of eleven children.
You can also see several busts (sculptures of heads and shoulders) of members of the Sherard family. The most impressive memorial is for the 1st Earl, created by the artist John Michael Rysbrack. It dates from 1732 and shows a seated woman with a child, and a man lying down, all dressed in Roman clothing. There's also a memorial tablet and a hatchment (a diamond-shaped board with a coat of arms) for the 6th Earl, from 1859. The church also has a memorial to John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton, a businessman, politician, and Olympic gold medalist.
See also
- Holy Trinity Church, Teigh
