St Maurice's Church, Winchester facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Maurice’s Church, Winchester |
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Tower of St Maurice’s Church, Winchester
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| 51°03′43″N 1°18′46″W / 51.06192°N 1.31264°W | |
| Location | Winchester |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Maurice |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II listed |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Winchester |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Maurice's Church, Winchester was a historic Church of England parish church located in Winchester, Hampshire, England. While most of the church building is no longer standing, its ancient tower remains as a reminder of its long history.
Contents
History of the Church Building
The original St Maurice's Church was part of a larger parish that also included St Mary Kalendar. In March 1840, the old church building was taken down. A new church was then built in its place.
The new church was designed by an architect named William Gover from Winchester. It officially opened on July 21, 1842. The Bishop of Winchester held a special ceremony to make it a holy place.
What Remains Today
Most of the church building was taken down in the late 1950s. However, one important part still stands: the 15th-century tower. This tower is very old, built from flint and rubble. It even has an arch from the Norman period, which was much earlier.
The tower is considered a Grade II listed building. This means it's a special historical building that is protected by law. On the tower, you can see a sundial and the royal coat of arms of King George III.
The Church Organ
St Maurice's Church once had a beautiful pipe organ. This organ was built in 1756 by a famous organ maker known as Father Smith.
When the church closed, the organ was moved. First, it went to St Thomas' Church in Southgate Street. Later, when St Thomas' Church also closed, the organ moved again. It found a new home at St Denys Church in Portswood, Southampton. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Church Bells
The tower of St Maurice's Church had six bells when the church closed. These bells have an interesting story of their own!
How the Bells Changed Over Time
Before 1919, there were five bells in the tower. In 1919, the bells were sent to a company called Gillett & Johnston in Croydon. Here, a part of the bells called "canons" were removed. A new, smaller bell, called a "treble," was added. This made it a set of six bells.
In 1957, these six bells were moved again. They were given to the Church of the Ascension in Bitterne Park, Southampton. At this new location, two more treble bells were added, making a total of eight bells. The largest bell, called the "tenor," was also reshaped by Mears and Stainbank.
World's Lightest Ring of Twelve Bells
In 2008, even more bells were added! Four new treble bells were cast by Hayward Mills Associates. This brought the total number of bells to twelve. These bells are special because they are the world's lightest set of twelve bells hung in a church.
Images for kids
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Tower of St Maurice’s Church, Winchester
