St Mary the Virgin Church, Turville facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church |
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| The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin | |
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| OS grid reference | SU 76723 91081 |
| Location | Turville |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | Website |
| History | |
| Status | Church |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | Virgin Mary |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Bells | 6 |
| Administration | |
| Benefice | Hambleden Valley |
| Deanery | Wycombe |
| Diocese | Oxford |
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a very old English church. It is located in the village of Turville, in Buckinghamshire, England. This church is usually open every day from 10 AM to 4 PM, so visitors can explore its history.
Contents
A Look at St Mary's History
The first records of St Mary's Church date back to the 12th century. It was built mostly using flint, a type of stone. Flint was the easiest material to find in the Middle Ages. The oldest part of the church is its nave, which is the main area where people sit. This part was built in the early 1100s.
Building the Bell Tower
In 1340, a new bell tower was added to the church. The chancel, which is the area near the altar, was also made bigger. The church has six bells in its tower today. Four of these bells are very old, dating from 1670 and 1744. A fifth bell was added in the late 1990s to celebrate the new millennium. The sixth bell was put in place more recently, in 2018.
Changes Over Time
More changes happened in 1733. A new section, called the north aisle, was built. This part was made to hold a special seating area for William Perry, who was the Lord of the Manor at that time. Inside the north aisle, you can also see a beautiful marble monument dedicated to William Perry. Two stained-glass windows on the south wall also show symbols related to the Perry family.
Restoring the Church
St Mary's Church has been repaired and updated many times over the years.
- In 1875, the floor in the chancel area was raised.
- In 1901, a vestry was built. This is a room often used by the clergy.
- The roof was repaired in 1972.
- In 1996, the church got a new frame for its bells, and the bells were tuned again.
The Stone Coffin Discovery
During the 1901 restoration, something interesting was found. Workers uncovered a stone coffin. Inside it were two skeletons. One of the skeletons was from the 1500s and had a hole in its skull. This suggests that the person might have been murdered. Today, this stone coffin stands in front of the north aisle. It is thought that the coffin might have been used as an ossuary. An ossuary is a place where bones are stored, especially when a churchyard becomes too full.
Images for kids
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St Mary's Church in Turville.
