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 near Stapleford, England. It's no longer used for regular church services. This church is a very important building. It's listed as a Grade I building, which means it's special and protected. The Churches Conservation Trust looks after it. You can find it on the grounds of Stapleford Park.
Church History
This church was built in 1783. It was designed by George Richardson. He built it for Robert Sherard, the 4th Earl of Harborough. It replaced an older church that was on the same spot. The church served as the Sherard family's private church. It was also the local parish church for the area. The church was repaired in 1931 and again in 1967.
Church Design
Outside the Church
St Mary's Church is made from limestone. It's built in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old medieval churches. The church has a main area called a nave. It also has parts sticking out on the sides called transepts. There's a chancel at the east end and a tower at the west end. The tower has three levels. It has fancy carvings and a battlement top. There are tall, pointed decorations called pinnacles on the corners.
The main door has a special "Tudor arch" shape. Above it is a window with two lights. The tower also has round windows. The middle part of the tower has a clock face. The top level has openings for bells. The main part of the church has three-light windows. These windows have pointed arches. Around the outside, you can see carved shields. These shields show the family symbols of people who married into the Sherard family.
In the churchyard, some important people are buried. These include the Barons Gretton. Also buried there is Lieutenant-Colonel Frederick Eveleigh-de-Moleyns, 5th Baron Ventry.
Inside the Church
The entrance porch in the tower has a cool, eight-sided ceiling. It has a carved decoration in the middle. The main part of the church, the nave, has a smooth, curved ceiling. It's decorated with a diamond pattern. At the back, there's a wooden balcony. It has a fireplace made of a special stone called Coade stone. Above the fireplace, you can see the Royal arms. The ceiling here has an oval dome. It's decorated with small, angel-like figures called putti.
The side parts of the church, the transepts, have round decorations. These show pictures of doves. At the front of the church, in the chancel, there's a fancy marble screen. It's decorated with an anchor symbol. On each side of the main east window, there are boards. These boards have the Ten Commandments written on them. The seats for the church leaders are along the sides of the nave. The pulpit (where sermons are given) has eight sides. The font (for baptisms) is a marble bowl on a wooden stand.
Most of the memorials inside the church were moved from the older church. The oldest one is from 1490. It's a brass plate for Geoffrey Sherard and his wife. There's also a black and white marble tomb from 1640. This tomb has two life-size statues of people lying down. It also has carvings of eleven children. You can also see several busts, which are sculptures of the heads and shoulders of Sherard family members.
One of the most beautiful memorials is for the 1st Earl. It was made by John Michael Rysbrack in 1732. It shows a seated woman with a child. It also has a man lying down. All the figures are dressed in Roman clothing. There's also a memorial tablet and a hatchment (a special shield) for the 6th Earl from 1859. The church also has a memorial for John Gretton, 1st Baron Gretton. He was a businessman, a politician, and an Olympic gold medalist.
See also
- Holy Trinity Church, Teigh
