St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham |
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 St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham
Location in Norfolk
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| 52°49′42″N 0°30′32″E / 52.828204°N 0.508924°E | |
| Location | Sandringham, Norfolk, PE35 6EH |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Traditional Anglican |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | St Mary Magdalene |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Sandringham with West Newton and Appleton |
| Deanery | Heacham and Rising |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Lynn |
| Diocese | Diocese of Norwich |
St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, is a special Church of England church. It is located right next to Sandringham House, which is one of the homes of the British royal family. When the royals are staying at Sandringham, they often attend church services here, especially at Christmas. The church is named after Mary Magdalene.
This church has been a place of worship for the royal family since the time of Queen Victoria. It is known for its beautiful inside, which has detailed wood carvings made by artists from Norway. The church also has a silver altar and a pulpit (a raised stand for the speaker) that were given by Queen Alexandra. These gifts show how important the church has been to the Royal Family for a long time.
Since 2022, the Reverend Canon Paul Williams has been the Rector (the main priest) of Sandringham.
Contents
History of the Church
The church building is very old and important. It is a Grade II* listed building, which means it is a specially protected historic place. It is described as a small building in the "perpendicular style," which is a type of Gothic architecture. The church was built in the 16th century.
It was later repaired and updated by Samuel Sanders Teulon in 1855 and by Sir Arthur Blomfield in 1890. The church is a great example of a building made from "carrstone," a local type of stone. It is located in the park and you can reach it from Sandringham House by walking through a garden with tall Scotch firs trees.
Church Decorations and Gifts
Many of the beautiful decorations and the stained glass in the east window were designed by Charles Eamer Kempe. King Edward VII also asked Kempe to create a stained glass window for Buckingham Palace in 1903. This window was for his oldest son, Prince Albert.
The church has a silver altar and a reredos (a screen behind the altar). These were made by Parisian silversmiths Barkentin & Krall. An American department store owner named Rodman Wanamaker gave them to Queen Alexandra to remember Edward VII. He also gave the Queen a silver pulpit and a silver 17th-century Spanish cross used in processions. Other interesting features include a font made of marble from Florence and a Greek font that dates back to the 9th century.
Royal Burials and Memorials
Many memorials for members of the royal family can be found at Sandringham Church and in its churchyard. Prince John (1905–1919), a son of King George V, is buried here.
After the death of King George V in January 1936, his coffin was placed in the church overnight. Estate workers guarded it. On the morning of January 23, the coffin was taken in a procession from the church to Wolferton railway station. Edward VIII and his brothers walked behind the coffin, followed by other royal family members in carriages.
Following the death of King George VI in February 1952, his body was also placed in the church for two days. After that, it was moved to Westminster Hall in London for people to pay their respects.
Royal Baptisms
Many royal baptisms (christenings) have taken place at Sandringham Church, including:
- King George VI was baptised on 10 February 1896.
- Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, was baptised on 7 June 1897.
- King Olav V of Norway was baptised on 11 August 1903.
- Prince John was baptised on 3 August 1905.
- Diana, Princess of Wales, was baptised on 30 August 1961.
- Princess Eugenie was baptised on 23 December 1990.
- Princess Charlotte of Wales was baptised on 5 July 2015.
