St Mary the Virgin's Church, Bathwick facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin's Church |
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| 51°23′3″N 2°21′4″W / 51.38417°N 2.35111°W | |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Anglo-Catholic |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a beautiful old church located on Darlington Street in Bathwick, a part of Bath, Somerset, England. It's an Anglican church, which means it's part of the main Christian church in England. You can find it close to Sydney Pleasure Gardens, a famous park in Bath. This church was built by the Pulteney family to replace an even older church called Bathwick Old Church.
Did you know that the famous band Muse recorded some of their organ music for their album Origin of Symmetry right here at St Mary the Virgin's Church?
Contents
History of the Church
The story of St Mary the Virgin's Church began when William Pulteney decided to build a bridge across the River Avon. He owned land on the other side of the river, which was mostly countryside back then. The bridge was finished in 1774.
Why a New Church Was Needed
After the bridge was built, more and more people started to move to the Bathwick area. As the population grew, there was a greater need for a new church where everyone could worship. So, in 1810, a group of people formed a committee to plan for a new church.
William Vane, Earl of Darlington, who was a supporter of the project, gave a piece of land for the church to be built. John Pinch, a well-known architect, was chosen to design the new building.
Laying the Foundation Stone
The special ceremony to lay the foundation stone happened in September 1814. This was a time when the Napoleonic Wars had paused. The stone had an inscription that talked about this peaceful moment. It mentioned the end of a big conflict and how the countries of Europe were coming together in peace.
Soon after, the old church, Bathwick Old Church, was taken down in 1818. Then, on February 4, 1820, St Mary the Virgin's Church was officially opened for people to come and worship.
Church Design and Art
The church was designed by John Pinch between 1814 and 1820. Later, the chancel (the part of the church near the altar) was updated by G.E. Street from 1873 to 1875. The church was meant to look like the old Gothic churches found in Somerset, but it also has a style typical of the early 1800s.
Key Features of the Building
- Tower: The church has a tall tower at the west end with a decorative top edge called a parapet and pointed decorations called pinnacles.
- Inside the Church: Inside, you'll find the nave (the main part where people sit), aisles (passageways on the sides), and a clerestory (a row of windows high up). The windows have a special design called Perpendicular tracery.
- Pillars and Ceilings: There are very tall, thin pillars inside. Instead of arches, flat wooden beams connect the pillars. The ceiling is curved and has a ribbed design.
- Galleries: The church has three galleries, which are like balconies, providing more seating space.
Art and Paintings
- Altar Painting: On the altar, there is an old painting from the early 1500s. It's a polyptych, which means it's a painting made of several panels. This one shows four winds and comes from the Netherlands.
- Original Altar Painting: The first painting for the altar, called "Adoration of the Child" by Benjamin Barker, is now hanging high up on the west wall.
Music at St Mary's
The organ at St Mary's Church is very special. It's the only one in the city made by a famous organ builder known as Father Henry Willis.
The Church Choir
The church has a long history of music, going back to the late 1800s. That's when a robed choir was started. For many years, the church choir was very well-known. However, in the 1970s and 1980s, it became hard to find enough boy singers. Because of this, the choir became an all-adult group.
In the 1990s and into the 2000s, the choir's quality improved greatly again. The choir of St Mary's became highly respected. They even went on several concert tours both in the UK and other countries, and they performed on radio and television.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical parishes in the Diocese of Bath and Wells
