St Mary the Virgin's Church, Bromfield facts for kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin's Church, Bromfield
St Mary the Virgin's Church, Bromfield, from the northwest
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OS grid reference	SO 482 768
Location	Bromfield, Shropshire
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
Website	St Mary, Bromfield
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	12 November 1952
Architect(s)	C. Hodgson Fowler (restoration)
Architectural type	Church
Style	Norman, Gothic, Gothic Revival
Specifications
Materials	Sandstone, tiled roofs
Administration
Parish	Bromfield
Deanery	Ludlow
Archdeaconry	Ludlow
Diocese	Hereford
Province	Canterbury

St Mary the Virgin's Church is an old church in the village of Bromfield, Shropshire, England. It used to be part of a priory (a type of monastery). Today, it is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves the local community.

The church is part of the Ludlow area within the diocese of Hereford. It is also grouped with five other churches in what is called the Bromfield Benefice. St Mary's Church is very important, so it is listed as a Grade I listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is a building of exceptional interest.

A Look Back: The Church's History

St Mary's Church was built even before the Normans came to England in 1066. It was known as a rich "minster," which was a large church with a special role.

From Priory to Parish Church

Bromfield Priory also existed before the Norman conquest. It was home to twelve canons, who were a type of priest. The Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086, describes the priory in detail. Over time, Monks started to live there too.

In 1155, King Henry II officially made it a Benedictine priory. Both canons and monks lived there together. After this, the priory became connected to Gloucester Abbey, and the prior (the head of the priory) was chosen by the Abbot of Gloucester.

The priory took over part of the existing church building. The church had been rebuilt in the 12th century with a cross-shaped design. It might have had a tower in the middle, where the arms of the cross met.

Changes Over Time

At some point, the central tower and the north transept (one of the "arms" of the cross shape) disappeared. This might have happened if the tower fell down. The current tower, located in the northwest, was built in the 13th century.

It is believed that the monks used the central part (which later became the chancel, or altar area) and the south transept for their services. The local people used the western part of the church. The vicar (the priest in charge of the parish) was chosen by the prior.

After the Monasteries Closed

In 1541, after King Henry VIII closed down the monasteries (a time called the Dissolution of the Monasteries), the church and priory were rented out to Charles Foxe. He bought the property in 1558.

Foxe changed parts of the church into his home. The chancel was divided into two floors, and the south transept became part of his house. However, the nave (the main part of the church where people sit), the north aisle (a side section), and the north porch continued to be used as the parish church for the community.

In the 17th century, Foxe's house was damaged by fire, and his family moved away. The chancel was then fixed up and became part of the parish church again. The south transept and the old priory buildings are no longer there. However, some parts of Foxe's house can still be seen attached to the south side of the church.

The church was repaired and updated between 1889 and 1890 by an architect named C. Hodgson Fowler. He added new windows on the south side and a north vestry (a room used by clergy).

Church Design and Features

St Mary's Church is built from sandstone and has tiled roofs. It has a main area (nave), a north side aisle, the chancel (altar area), and a tower on the northwest side.

Outside the Church

The tower has three levels. The lowest level includes a porch with a doorway on the north side. Above this doorway is a tall, narrow window called a lancet window. On the west side of the tower, there are two buttresses (supports). Between them is a small stair turret (a small tower with stairs).

Each opening for the bells has two lights (sections) under a pointed arch. The top edge of the tower has a battlement design, like a castle wall. Along the north aisle, you can see lancet windows placed between shallow buttresses. The windows on the south side of the church were added in the 19th century and have a Decorated-style tracery (stone patterns).

A small part of Charles Foxe's old house is still visible on the south side of the church. At the very east end, there's a blocked-up, round-headed Norman arch. This was originally the arch leading to the chancel. Inside this arch, there's a blocked-up Perpendicular-style window with three sections. Above it, in the gable (the triangular part of the wall), is another blocked window from when Foxe converted the church into his home.

Inside the Church

Ceiling painting in the chancel

Between the nave and the north aisle, there is a two-bay arcade (a row of arches). This part is in the Early English style. In the east wall of the chancel, there is a re-set piscina (a basin used for washing sacred vessels). The south wall has a tomb recess from the 14th century.

The ceiling of the chancel was painted in 1672 by Thomas Francis. It shows the Shield of the Trinity (a symbol of God) surrounded by cherubs (angel-like figures) and Bible verses. There are also angels holding a Bible open to Psalm 85. The reredos (a screen behind the altar) is a three-part artwork from around 1890 by the artist Charles Edgar Buckeridge.

You can also see the Royal Arms of King Charles II inside the church. The stained glass windows were designed by Kempe and were installed between 1890 and 1922.

The church has a two-manual pipe organ that was built in 1866 by J. W. Walker. It was rebuilt and made larger in 1890, and then checked again in 1991, both times by Walker's.

There is a ring of six bells in the tower. Five of these bells were made in 1737 by Abel Rudhall. The sixth bell was made in 1890 by John Taylor and Company. The church also has a smaller Sanctus bell, which was also made by Taylor's around the same time.

Churchyard and Memorials

The churchyard (the area around the church) contains three war graves. One is for a soldier from the King's Shropshire Light Infantry who died in World War I. The other two are for Welsh Guardsmen who died in World War II.

The churchyard also has a special burial area for the Clive family, later known as the Windsor-Clive family, from nearby Oakly Park. Important people buried here include Edward Clive, 1st Earl of Powis, his son Robert, and grandson Robert Windsor-Clive. All of them were politicians.

See also

• Grade I listed churches in Shropshire
• Listed buildings in Bromfield, Shropshire
• List of English abbeys, priories and friaries serving as parish churches