St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stansted Mountfitchet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin's Church,Stansted Mountfitchet |
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Tower of St Mary the Virgin's Church, Stansted Mountfitchet
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| OS grid reference | TL 521 242 |
| Location | Stansted Mountfitchet, Essex |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Designated | 21 February 1967 |
| Architect(s) | Francis T. Dollman (restoration) |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Norman, Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Flint and stone, brick tower |
St Mary the Virgin's Church is an old Anglican church near Stansted Mountfitchet, a village in Essex, England. It's a special building, listed as Grade II*, which means it's very important historically. The Churches Conservation Trust helps take care of it. You can find it about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) southeast of the village, on the grounds of Stansted Hall. It's listed because of its long history and interesting things inside.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
When Was the Church Built?
This church was built a very long time ago, between 1120 and 1124. A person named William Mountfitchet started its construction. Some parts of the church you see today are from that original building.
How Has the Church Changed Over Time?
In the 1200s, the chancel (the area around the altar) was made longer. A small chapel was also added to the north side of the church. Much later, in 1692, the tall west tower was built.
In 1888, the church had a big makeover by Francis T. Dollman. During this time, the main part of the church, called the nave, and its side aisle were rebuilt. A new church, dedicated to Saint John the Evangelist, was built closer to the village in 1889. This new church is now the main church for Stansted Mountfitchet. St Mary's is still used for special events and occasional services.
Architecture and Design
What Materials Were Used?
St Mary's Church is built from flint and stone. The tower, however, is made of brick.
Oldest Parts of the Church
Some of the oldest parts of the church are still there from the original 1100s building. These include the arch leading to the chancel and the doorways on the north and south sides. These parts are in the Norman style. The chancel arch has cool zigzag and "ball flower" carvings. The doorways are similar, with columns and special capitals that look like scallops.
Inside the Church
The font, where baptisms happen, is from the 1200s. Its unique, curved cover was added in the 1600s. The communion rail, which separates the altar area, is from the 1700s.
You can also see old monuments inside. One is a stone statue of a knight in armor, lying down. People say it's for Roger de Lancaster, who passed away in 1310. Other important monuments are from the 1600s. One is for Sir Thomas Middleton, showing his statue lying on a stone coffin under an arch. Another is for Hester Middleton, who died in 1614. She was either Sir Thomas's wife or daughter.
Churchyard and Bells
War Graves in the Churchyard
The churchyard is a peaceful place. It contains the war graves of nine service members. Five of them served in World War I, and four in World War II.
The Church Bells
The brick tower holds eight bells. They were made by different people over time. What's special about these bells is how they are set up. They are rung in an anti-clockwise direction, which is quite rare! Most bell towers have bells that ring clockwise. The biggest bell weighs about 13 hundred-weight (around 660 kg). Even though the church isn't used every day, these bells are still rung regularly. A group called the "Essex Association of Change Ringers" practices here once a month.
See also
