St Mary le Wigford facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary le Wigford |
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| 53°13′36″N 0°32′28″W / 53.226668°N 0.541008°W | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Lincoln |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lincoln |
St Mary le Wigford is a historic Church of England parish church located in Lincoln, England. It is considered a very important building and has a special status called Grade I listed.
Contents
History of St Mary le Wigford
This church is incredibly old, dating back to the 11th century. That means it was built over 900 years ago! Some parts of the church were added later, in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The Ancient Dedication Stone
One of the most interesting features is a special stone in the west tower. It's actually an old Roman tombstone that was used again. On it, you can see an Anglo-Saxon message that says: "Eirtig had me built and endowed to the glory of Christ and Saint Mary, XP." This tells us who helped build and support the church long ago.
Restorations and Changes Over Time
The church has been carefully looked after and updated many times. In 1872, R. C. Clarke from Nottingham helped restore it. A new part, called the south aisle, was added in 1877 by Leach of Cambridge. The tall tower was also repaired in 1908 by Watkins and Son. More changes and updates happened in 1975 to keep the church in good condition.
The Church Bells
The church tower holds four bells. The largest bell weighs about 600 pounds! All these bells were made in the 17th century. Two of them were cast in 1616, and two smaller ones were added in 1636. In 1932, a company called John Taylor & Co from Loughborough re-hung the bells and tuned them.
Memorials and Stained Glass
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Inside the church, you can find a beautiful alabaster chest tomb from 1618. This tomb might have been made by Maximilian Colt. It belongs to Sir Thomas Grantham and was originally in another church in Lincoln, St Martin's Church, Lincoln, which is no longer standing.
The Church Organ
The church has an organ, which is a large musical instrument. You can find detailed information about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register. This register keeps records of organs across the country.
Past Organists
Many talented musicians have played the organ at St Mary le Wigford. Here are a few of them:
- Francis Marshall Ward (from 1857)
- William Thomas Freemantle
- Dennis Townhill (from 1943 to 1947)
See also: Churches in Lincoln
