St Mary the Virgin's Church, Fawley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin's Church, Fawley |
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St Mary's Church with the Freeman Mausoleum on the left
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| OS grid reference | SU 754,867 |
| Location | Fawley, Buckinghamshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | St Mary, Fawley |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 21 June 1955 |
| Architect(s) | Paley and Austin (restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint with stone dressings Tiled roofs |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Fawley |
| Deanery | Wycombe |
| Archdeaconry | Buckingham |
| Diocese | Oxford |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary the Virgin's Church is a beautiful old church located in the village of Fawley, which is in Buckinghamshire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it's a local church for the community. The church is part of a group of six churches in the Hambleden Valley. It is also a very important historical building, officially listed as Grade II*.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
How the Church Grew Over Time
St Mary's Church started a very long time ago, in the 12th century (the 1100s). Back then, it was a simple building with just a nave (the main part where people sit) and a chancel (the area around the altar).
About a hundred years later, in the 13th century (the 1200s), a tower was added to the church. This tower was made even taller in the 16th century (the 1500s). The chancel was rebuilt in 1748, giving it a fresh look.
Victorian Restoration and Expansion
A big change happened between 1882 and 1883. The church was carefully restored and made larger by architects named Paley and Austin. During this time, the walls of the nave were made higher, and the roof was replaced. They also added a north transept (a part of the church that sticks out, making it look like a cross) and a vestry (a room used by the clergy). New windows were put in, and the south transept was updated with a new arch connecting it to the nave.
Architecture of St Mary's Church
What the Outside Looks Like
St Mary's Church is built mainly from flint stones, with special stone details around the edges. Its roofs are covered with tiles. The church has a main section called the nave, with parts sticking out on the north and south sides called transepts. It also has a chancel, a vestry on the north side, and a tower at the west end.
The tower has strong corner supports called buttresses. On the west side, there's a doorway with a two-light window above it. The north and south sides of the tower have tall, narrow windows called lancet windows. Near the top of the tower, you can see a decorative band called a corbel table. The very top of the tower has a shallow gable (a triangular part of the wall) and a decorative parapet (a low wall).
Along the sides of the nave, there are windows with two sections. The transepts have single windows on their east and west sides, and two-light windows on their north and south sides. The chancel has a doorway on the south side that is now blocked, and a large window on the east side. Above this east window, there's a stone plaque with a date carved into it.
Exploring the Inside of the Church
Inside the chancel, you'll see a decorative border called a cornice. The east part of the chancel is decorated with Ionic pilasters, which are like flat columns attached to the wall. Some of the wooden panelling in the chancel, along with the communion rails, the pulpit (where sermons are given), and the reading desk, originally came from a grand house called Canons.
The beautiful marble baptismal font (used for baptisms) was added in 1884. The colourful stained glass windows in the nave and transepts were made by famous companies like Clayton and Bell and Heaton, Butler and Bayne. In the vestry, there's a special memorial window designed by John Piper and Patrick Reyntiens in 1976. You can also find old glass with family coats of arms that used to be in another house nearby.
In the south transept, there's a monument from the early 17th century. In the nave, you can see a decorative cartouche from around 1718. On the inside of the tower arch, there are two painted messages from 1637. The church also has a single-manual organ, which was built in 1917.
External Features and Mausolea
The Freeman Mausoleum
Near the church, there are two special buildings called mausolea, which are tombs for families. The Freeman Mausoleum was built in 1750. It was designed by John (Cooke) Freeman for his family. It has an eight-sided base and a round drum shape on top, covered by a dome. There's an inscription on one side and an iron gate entrance on another. This mausoleum is very important and is listed as a Grade II* building. Its design was inspired by an ancient Roman tomb near Rome.
The Mackenzie Mausoleum
The Mackenzie Mausoleum was built in 1862 for the Mackenzie family of Fawley Court. It is made from Aberdeen granite and has a square shape with a low, stepped roof. On the north side, there's an entrance with a decorative band called a frieze that has an inscription. Around the entrance, there are flat columns called pilasters that support a triangular top called a pediment. Inside this triangle, there's a carved hourglass. This mausoleum is listed as a Grade II building.
See also
- List of ecclesiastical works by Paley and Austin
