St Mary the Virgin, Wotton-under-Edge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary the Virgin, Wotton-under-Edge |
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St Mary the Virgin, Wotton-under-Edge
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| 51°38′20.5″N 2°20′53″W / 51.639028°N 2.34806°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Wotton-under-Edge |
| Diocese | Gloucester |
| Province | Canterbury |
St Mary the Virgin Church in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, is a very old church. It was officially opened on August 19, 1283, by Bishop Godfrey Giffard. Most of the church you see today was finished by 1325. This was about 171 years after its first known priest, Gerinus, was recorded in 1154. St Mary's is one of four churches in the town.
Contents
Exploring the Church's Design
The Sacristy Room
The sacristy is a special room built in the 1830s. It holds old charity boards that used to be in other parts of the church. This room is where the clothes for the acolytes (helpers) and the minister are kept. It also stores other items used during church services.
The Sanctuary Area
The roof over the sanctuary is the only part left from the 16th-century roof that once covered the main part of the church. The reredos is a decorative screen behind the altar. It is made from English Oak and looks like it's from the 14th century. This was done to match the old style of the church. It was made to remember Charlotte Sewell, whose son was a vicar here.
The East Window is very old, dating back to 1325 when the church was finished. It shows angels and saints worshipping Christ.
Ancient Brasses
Near the sacristy, you can find the tombs of Lord Thomas IV and Lady Berkeley. Lord Thomas was a brave admiral for the King's ships. He even fought in the famous Battle of Agincourt. The brass decorations on their tombs are from 1392. This makes them the second oldest brasses in all of Gloucestershire.
The Chancel and Choir Area
The choir stalls, where the choir sits, were added to the church in 1885. A huge, beautiful chandelier hangs above them. It was a gift from William Moore, a cloth maker, in 1763. This chandelier is only lit for very special events.
The Catherine Chapel
The Catharine Chapel is located at the top of the north side of the church. It is named after St Catherine. This chapel was first built in medieval times, maybe soon after the main church. It was made bigger in 1780 and then restored as a chapel in 1928. Today, it is used for Friday morning prayer.
The Church Tower
The church tower stands at the west end of the church. It was built in six sections. The first two sections were built around 1320, when the church was first constructed. The other four sections were added later but finished by the end of the 14th century. The tower is 47 meters tall.
The Tower Clock
The clock was built in 1902. It is about halfway up the west side of the tower. The clock face is six feet wide. The hands and numbers are made from brass.
The Church Bells
The bells were first made in 1756 in Gloucester. In 1902, when the tower was being updated (and the clock was added), the bells were hung on steel frames. They were rehung again in 1960. The bells ring in the musical key of E-flat.
The Famous Organ
The church is perhaps most famous for its very large organ. It is in the south-east corner of the church, next to the altar. This organ is one of the biggest in the county. It is known for being played by the famous composer Georg Handel! He played it when it was in its old home at St Martin in the Fields church.
The organ was given to St Martin in the Fields by King George I. It has many different sounds, called stops. It has three keyboards (called manuals) and a pedalboard for playing with your feet. Some of its sounds include two trumpets, six diapasons (a basic organ sound), a cornopean (like a horn), and a flute.
You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
