St Mary the Virgin's Church, Aylesbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's |
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| Church of St Mary the Virgin | |
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| 51°49′05″N 0°48′58″W / 51.817950°N 0.816050°W | |
| Location | Aylesbury |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Tradition | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Consecrated | 1200-1250 |
| Specifications | |
| Capacity | (currently) 150 approx |
| Length | 140ft |
| Nave length | 78ft |
| Choir length | 41ft |
| Width | 66ft |
| Nave width | 26ft |
| Width across transepts | 20ft |
| Height | 121ft |
| Nave height | 70ft |
| Number of towers | 1 |
| Tower height | 21ft |
| Number of spires | 1 |
| Spire height | 22ft |
| Administration | |
| Archdeaconry | Buckingham |
| Diocese | Oxford (since 1541) |
| Province | Canterbury |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Aylesbury, is an Anglican church in the center of Aylesbury. It belongs to the Diocese of Oxford.
There was a church here in Saxon times. The current building was built between 1200 and 1250. It has been changed and added to many times since then.
The church is a very famous sight in Aylesbury. Its fancy clock tower stands out in the town. It is a Grade I listed building, which means it is a very important building.
Contents
- History of St Mary's Church
- Saxon Times (Before 1066)
- The 1100s: Norman Font and Early Church Life
- The 1200s: Building the Current Church
- The 1300s: Lady Chapel and New Roof
- The 1400s: Guilds and a Clock
- The 1500s: Big Changes and a School
- The 1600s: Civil War and Pews
- The 1700s: Repairs and a Yew Tree
- The 1800s: Major Restorations and a Scare
- The 1900s: Modernizing the Church
- The 2000s: Looking Ahead
- Churchyard History
- Music at St Mary's
- See also
History of St Mary's Church
Saxon Times (Before 1066)
Aylesbury had a church even in Saxon times. During repairs in the 1800s, workers found parts of an old crypt (an underground room). Stone steps led from the church down into this crypt.
Experts believe one arch in the crypt is from the Saxon period. This crypt might have been part of a very old Saxon church. It could date back to around 571 AD, when Aylesbury was a Saxon settlement called Aeglesburge.
This underground room might have been used for worship during difficult times. Later, it seemed to be a charnel house, a place where human bones were stored. Piles of bones were found there. These bones were later moved and buried in the churchyard.
It's possible this was the burial site of St. Osyth in the 800s. Her burial place in Aylesbury became a popular spot for pilgrimage. However, in 1500, her bones were secretly removed from the church. It's not fully clear how much of this story is true.
The 1100s: Norman Font and Early Church Life
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We know there was an older church before the current one. This is because of a beautiful Norman font found inside the church. Other old items from the same time were also found buried under the church in the 1800s.
The font was found in three pieces and was repaired. You can see it at the west end of the church today. This font is so special that it gave its name to a style of fonts called "Aylesbury Fonts." These fonts are usually from the late 1100s, around 1170 to 1190.
The early history of the church in Aylesbury is a bit confusing. The church was linked to Lincoln Cathedral. This connection meant that a special church official, called a Prebendary of Aylesbury, was part of the Lincoln church as early as 1092.
During recent digging work, parts of a 12th-century cloister (a covered walkway) and a water pipe were found.
The 1200s: Building the Current Church
The church you see today was likely built between 1200 and 1250. It had some changes and additions during the time of King John or Henry III of England.
Originally, the church had a cruciform (cross-shaped) design. This means it had a chancel (the area around the altar), a nave (the main part where people sit), transepts (parts that stick out like the arms of a cross), and a tower. It still mostly looks like that, even with all the changes over the years.
From the 1000s to the 1300s, many cathedrals and smaller churches were built across Europe. Aylesbury Church was part of this building boom.
Back then, churches were not just for worship. They were also used by the community in other ways. They could be meeting places for guilds (groups of workers) or halls for banquets. Sometimes, Mystery plays (religious plays) were performed there. Churches might also be used for fairs or even to store grain.
The 1300s: Lady Chapel and New Roof
One of the most interesting parts of the church is the Lady Chapel. This beautiful part was built in the 1300s. In this chapel, old sedilia (stone seats for priests near the altar) were found in the wall.
It is thought that the old church building only went as far as the nave. It probably had a high, pointed roof. Because it wasn't bright enough, a clerestory (a row of windows high up) and a flat roof were added in the 1400s. The east ends of the north and south chapels were also made longer around the same time. These are now known as the Chapel of St George and the Chapter House.
The 1400s: Guilds and a Clock
In 1450, a religious group called the Guild of St Mary was started in Aylesbury. It was also known as the Guild of Our Lady. This guild became a meeting place for important local people. It was even involved in the Wars of the Roses (a series of wars for the English throne). The guild's old building is still there today, though it's mostly almshouses now.
A tablet that used to be in the church, from 1494, says that John Stone of Aylesbury left two buildings in his will. The money from renting these buildings was to be used to keep a clock and chimes working in the church tower forever.
The tower's main supports started to weaken early on. Over time, different ways were tried to make them stronger. An arch between the south-east support and the transept was crushed. It was blocked up in the 1400s. The southern and eastern arches of the tower were also damaged.
Around this time, the Lady Chapel and sacristy (now called the vestry) were likely built. The sacristy looks like the oldest part of the building today. Inside, there's a 15th-century oak wardrobe with a clever swinging hanger for priest's clothes. There's also a strong locker where holy items were kept. Above the sacristy is a room called the priest's chamber or priest's hole. The walls here are very thick, and the door is very old and strong.
The 1500s: Big Changes and a School
Later, in 1596, the south-west tower support was covered in stonework. In 1599, the same was done to the north-west support.
King Henry VIII declared himself the head of the Church in England in 1531. This led to the dissolution of the monasteries (closing down religious houses). In 1534, the church became part of the new Church of England, separating from the Roman Catholic Church.
In 1536, a large part of Buckinghamshire became King Henry VIII's personal property. Henry VIII also made Aylesbury the main county town instead of Buckingham. This helped the church in Aylesbury grow.
Under his son, King Edward VI, new ways of worship were introduced. A new prayer book, the Book of Common Prayer, was created in 1549 and 1552.
After Henry VIII and Edward VI, Mary Tudor became queen. She tried to bring back the Catholic faith. Many church walls were whitewashed, and beautiful old paintings were lost forever.
In the north transept, there is a stone monument to Lady Lee. She was the wife of Sir Henry Lee, who was Queen Elizabeth I's personal champion. Lady Lee died in 1584.
Aylesbury Grammar School was started in 1598. It was first located inside the church itself! The school ran from 9 AM to 2 PM. The Vicar of Aylesbury was one of the school's trustees.
The 1600s: Civil War and Pews
In 1611, Aylesbury Grammar School moved to other church buildings. These buildings now house the County Museum. The school stayed there until 1907.
The church's supports continued to have problems. This shows that the repairs often failed.
There are no old monuments or stained glass from the 1600s or earlier in Aylesbury Church. This suggests the church was treated roughly during this time. During repairs in the 1800s, damage was found on the stone work. This damage was likely caused during the English Civil War in the time of King Charles I.
Aylesbury was greatly affected by the Civil War. It would have been unusual if this church had escaped damage. During this time, many churches were robbed and defaced. For example, in 1642, a soldier named Nehemiah Wharton wrote from Aylesbury. He said his men "got into the church, defaced the ancient and sacred glazed pictures, and burned the holy rails."
Descriptions of the church mention an old gallery with a "bird-cage pew." This pew was like a private box, completely enclosed with fancy lattice work. It was used by judges and important officials. The church also had a pulpit (where sermons are given) that people called a "three-decker" because it had three levels.
Some pews in the church had brass rails and curtains to make them more private. In the north chapel, some pews were raised high off the floor. The main part of the church was full of private pews. People were very proud to own a "faculty pew" and often kept them locked. When someone arrived late, their arrival was announced by the clicking of pew door locks.
In 1691, a clockmaker named John Aylward was given the buildings left by John Stone in 1494. In return, he had to build and maintain a clock and chimes in the church tower for 31 years. This property was known as the Clock and Chimes Estate.
The small spire on top of the church tower is thought to be from the time of Charles II.
The 1700s: Repairs and a Yew Tree
The private pews were still there in the 1700s. In 1759, a man named 'Dear Dell' asked John Wilkes if he could use his empty pew. Even though they were friends, John Wilkes said no. He wrote back, "I cannot lend you my pew... I will tell you the particular reason (which you cannot guess) when I see you."
In 1756, it was decided that a gallery should be built in the church. It was also agreed that the "middle aisle" of the church should have a ceiling.
Also in 1756, a record in the churchwardens' book mentions a cost "for setting the yew tree in the Churchyard." It's not clear why. Some old writers say yew trees were planted to provide wood for bows for archers. Others say they protected the church from storms.
In 1765, people became very worried about the church building. A surveyor named Mr. Keen was asked to check it. His report confirmed that the building was very unsafe and needed to be rebuilt. People tried to raise money by asking landowners to pay a small amount based on their rent, but this idea was not popular.
Before a big restoration in the 1800s, only a small part of the church was used for worship. The south transept, for example, was used to store all the equipment for the local fire brigade.
The 1800s: Major Restorations and a Scare
During the Napoleonic Wars, gunpowder for local soldiers was stored deep inside the church.
In 1821, the churchwardens spent £250 to build a stable, coach house, and washhouse. These buildings were near Temple Square.
Huge renovation works began after a report in the 1830s. Before the restoration, memorial tablets were all over the church, but mostly in the chancel and north transept.
The church had been poorly repaired for many years, leading to a lot of debt. The real restoration work started in 1842. However, it was clear that the costs would be very high. It was impossible to raise enough money just from church taxes or appeals to local people.
Many years before 1848, a surveyor from London had looked at the church. He famously said that the church might stand until he reached Watford, but it would fall before he got home.
On September 24, 1848, during Sunday morning service, the church chimes broke. This caused a loud noise in the tower. Many people thought the surveyor's prophecy was coming true and that the church was falling down! There was a panic, and people rushed to escape. Some climbed over pews, and others fell over each other. It was complete confusion for a while. When the scared people reached the churchyard and realized nothing was wrong, they returned to their seats, and the service continued.
A survey in 1848 by Sir Gilbert Scott showed serious problems with the church's foundations, walls, and roof.
In 1849, a meeting was held to discuss this report. It was decided to borrow £3,000 for repairs. This meeting was very heated, with many people, especially Nonconformists, strongly against borrowing the money. However, the plan was approved after a vote.
The church was closed, and services were held in the County Hall.
An official count of church attendance was done on March 30, 1851. St Mary's reported that on Sunday morning, 700 people were in the main service and 180 in Sunday school, making 880 total. In the evening, there were 800 people in the service and 180 in Sunday school, totaling 980.
In May 1851, the church reopened for worship, but the restoration was far from finished. The seats hadn't been put back, so people sat on chairs. The chancel (the area near the altar) was not yet restored.
In 1852, another meeting decided to raise money to reseat the church through donations.
In 1853, work restarted. The seating was finished in 1854. The chancel was finally restored in 1855 at a cost of about £1,000.
After the inside was finished, people wanted to restore the outside too. This work began in 1865. Old rough coverings were removed, and new stone was put on the walls. The supports were rebuilt on strong foundations.
The outside of the church was greatly repaired and straightened. The completion of the work was celebrated on September 28, 1869, with special services. The church was beautifully decorated, and the bells rang happily. A public lunch was held. About £800 was donated that day, helping to pay off the total cost of the restoration, which was around £16,000 (about £731,000 today).
The 1900s: Modernizing the Church
In the 1970s, the church was again thought to be very unstable. At one point, it seemed like it might be torn down.
In January 1976, after a storm, the decorative top part of the tower was removed.
Money was raised, and the church closed in April 1978 for work to begin. The inside of the building was almost completely emptied for a major restoration. The plan was to spend over £250,000 to make it a dual-purpose building for both religious and community activities. The work was finished within a year. A new layout, floor, lighting, and heating system were installed.
A refectory (a dining hall) was built in the old south porch of the church. This meant the main entrance moved to the south transept.
The 2000s: Looking Ahead
Today, the building needs more renovation. A lot of money is needed to fix the roof on the south side of the church. The roof is leaking in the south transept, chapter house, and refectory.
Churchyard History
The churchyard of St Mary’s was much larger in late Saxon and medieval times. Skeletons have been found in nearby streets and cellars. Old records suggest that St Mary’s was the site of a late Saxon minster (an important church). Other records suggest there was a mint (where coins were made) here in the 1000s under Edward the Confessor.
Other Saxon and medieval activities have been found in this area. These include ditches, pits, wells, pottery, and animal remains from the 900s to the 1100s. A Saxon ditch and 12th- to 14th-century pits and wells were found at the Prebendal, which was a medieval manor.
Local stories say that Aylesbury Churchyard used to be a meeting place for idle and rowdy people. All kinds of sports and games were played there. Soldiers were even reported to have been whipped there. We don't have proof of these events, but it's possible they happened.
Even in the early 1700s, local elections were held in the churchyard. Candidates would stand on an old tomb (which is now gone) to speak to the voters. If there was no competition, the election ended there. If there was a vote, they would move to the County Hall. The last time nominations were made on this old tomb was in 1802.
The south side of Aylesbury Churchyard was so full of burials that no more could be made there. Since there was no other burial place, people had to start using the less popular north side.
The churchyard used to have several public paths crossing it, but these are now closed. There was an entrance from the west, with paths leading to the church. There was also an unofficial path east of the chancel. There was no proper fence around the churchyard. It was like an "open grave." Boys from the Aylesbury Grammar School and other town boys used it as a playground. So much damage was done that an old parish beadle (a church officer) was hired to keep order in the burial ground.
The churchyard was very crowded with burials. It was hard to find space for a new burial without disturbing old remains. So, it was decided to close it. It closed at the end of 1857. A new cemetery was then opened on Tring Road. Occasionally, burials still happen in the churchyard.
Music at St Mary's
Music is an important part of life at St Mary's Church. It is used during worship and other activities.
Bells
In 1773, a new set of bells was installed. Three old bells were traded for new ones from London. The oldest bell in the tower is the "sanctus bell," which dates back to 1612. Today, there are a total of nine bells: the sanctus bell, six from 1773, and two from 1850.
Organ
The church's first organ was a gift from Mrs. Mary Pitches in 1782. At a meeting, £20 a year was set aside to pay an organist. When Mrs. Pitches died in 1800, she left £500 to provide money for the organist.
This organ was built by Green of Lichfield. It was improved in 1858.
The organ has been in different places in the church. First, it was in a gallery above the tower, facing the nave. Then it moved to the center of the west end. During the big restoration in the 1800s, it was placed in a room in the north transept.
The organ stopped working several years ago, and an electric organ is used instead. However, the original organ is still in the church, even though it doesn't work.
Choir
The choir helps lead worship every Sunday during the main service. They also sing at special town services, carol services, and weddings.
The Friends of St Mary's
The Friends of St Mary's group organizes classical music concerts at the church. They usually have one extended evening concert each month.
See also
- Vicars of the Parish Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aylesbury
- Prebendaries of Aylesbury
