St Mary The Church of Our Lady, Merevale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Mary The Church of Our Lady |
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St. Mary The Church of Our Lady, Merevale
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglican |
| Website | Kingsbury And Baxterley Churches |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Birmingham |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St. Mary The Church of Our Lady Merevale is a very old church in Merevale, Warwickshire, England. It is famous for its beautiful Jesse window, which is a special stained-glass window. This church was once part of a much larger building called Merevale Abbey. Today, it is a Church of England parish church, which means it serves the local community.
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A Church with a Long History
This church has a fascinating past! It started out as the gatehouse to Merevale Abbey, a large religious building founded way back in 1148. Merevale Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey, which means it belonged to a special group of monks called Cistercians.
The Abbey's End
Sadly, the abbey itself was destroyed during a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This happened in the 1500s when Henry VIII, who was the King of England, decided to close down many monasteries and abbeys across the country. Even though the main abbey was ruined, its gatehouse survived! This gatehouse was then turned into the church we see today. You can still find some small parts of the old abbey nearby.
Famous Burials at Merevale Abbey
Many important people were buried at Merevale Abbey over the centuries. Here are some of them:
- John de Ferrers, 4th Baron Ferrers of Chartley
- Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby
- Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby
- Robert de Ferrers, 5th Baron Ferrers of Chartley
- William de Ferrers, 5th Earl of Derby
St. Mary's Church Today
Today, St. Mary's Church is part of a group of churches called the Kingsbury and Baxterley group. This group includes churches in Baxterley, Kingsbury, Hurley, and Wood End. All five churches share the same priest, who is currently Revd. Dr. John White.
A Unique Church Building
St. Mary's is the only church in the area of Merevale with Bentley. Bentley is interesting because it has four separate parts, called exclaves, that are not connected to the main area. Two of these are near Twycross, one near Sheepy Parva (both in Leicestershire), and one in Hams Hall in Warwickshire.
What makes St. Mary's Church truly special is that it is the only Cistercian Gate Chapel in the entire United Kingdom that is still open for regular weekly church services all year round. This means it's a unique piece of history that is still actively used by its community!
