St Mary the Virgin's Church, Great Bircham facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Great Bircham
St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Great Bircham
St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Great Bircham Location in Norfolk
52°51′42.3″N 0°37′42.8″E / 52.861750°N 0.628556°E / 52.861750; 0.628556
Location	Great Bircham
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
History
Dedication	Saint Mary the Virgin
Architecture
Heritage designation	Grade I listed
Designated	5 June 1953
Administration
Parish	The Birchams and Bagthorpe
Deanery	Heacham and Rising
Archdeaconry	Lynn
Diocese	Norwich
Province	Canterbury

St Mary's Church, Great Bircham is a very old church in Great Bircham, Norfolk, England. It was built in the 12th century and is part of the Church of England. This church is so important that it is a Grade I listed building, meaning it has special historical value.

Discovering the Church's History

The oldest parts of St Mary's Church, like its tower, were built around the year 1200. This was during a time known as the Norman period. The main door of the tower is also from the 12th century.

Key Features from Different Centuries

• The north door and a special stone basin called a font, made of Purbeck marble, were added in the 13th century.
• The chancel, which is the part of the church where the altar is, was built in the early 14th century.
• The nave, the main part of the church where people sit, was built in the middle of the 14th century.
• Inside, you can still see a wooden screen from the 15th century.

Unique Box Pews

The church is famous for its special wooden seats called box pews. These pews were put in around 1850. They are decorated with carved designs called "poppyheads."

A Special Robe for Repairs

In 1939, the church sold a very old crimson (deep red) robe. This robe, called a cope, was from about 1480. It had been given to the church in 1505 by a person named Roger Le Strange. The church sold it to the St Peter Hungate Museum in Norwich to get money for important repairs.

The Church's Organs

Churches often have organs to play music during services. St Mary's Church has had a few different organs over the years.

Early Organs

• In 1869, the church had a "barrel organ." This type of organ plays music by turning a barrel with pins on it, a bit like a giant music box.
• A new pipe organ was put in during 1882. It was built by a company called E Norman. This organ was later fixed up in 1926.

The Current Organ

The organ you hear in the church today was made in 1940 by Gray and Davison. It wasn't always in Great Bircham. It used to be in another church, Emmanuel Church, in Chesham, Buckinghamshire. This organ was moved to St Mary's Church around 1998 and was set up by Kenneth Canter. You can find out more details about this organ in the National Pipe Organ Register.

The Church Bells

The church tower holds a set of five bells that can be rung together.

A Mix of Old and New Bells

• Two of the bells are very old, from the late 17th century. They were made by a bell founder named Charles Newman.
• The middle bell was made in 1878 by John Warner and Sons.
• The two heaviest bells are newer, dating from 1923. They were made by a company called Mears and Stainbank.