St Modwen's, Burton upon Trent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Modwen's, Burton upon Trent |
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| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | St Modwen's webpage |
| History | |
| Founded | 1719 |
| Dedication | 1723 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Burton-upon-Trent St Modwen |
| Deanery | Tutbury |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Stoke |
| Episcopal area | Stafford Episcopal Area |
| Diocese | Diocese of Lichfield |
| Province | Province of Canterbury |
St Modwen's is a special church in Burton upon Trent, a town in Staffordshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. This church is named after St Modwen, also known as Modwenna. She was a nun who started an abbey (a type of monastery) in Burton way back in the 600s!
The church you see today replaced an older church. That older church was part of Burton Abbey. After the abbey was closed down a long time ago, the town used its church.
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Discovering St Modwen's Church
The church building we see now stands proudly overlooking Burton's market square. Work on it began in 1719. People started using it for services in 1723, and it was fully finished by 1728.
What the Church Looks Like
St Modwen's is built from red sandstone. It has a main open area called a nave with five sections and walkways on the sides. There are also balconies on the north, west, and south sides. At the back, there's a rounded part called an apse.
At the front, there's a special entrance area called a narthex. This area has a tall tower in the middle. It also has stairs on the north and south sides that lead up to the balconies.
Who Designed This Beautiful Church?
The church was designed in a classic style by two brothers, Richard and William Smith. They were from Tettenhall. William Smith passed away in 1724, and Richard in 1726. Their younger brother, Francis Smith of Warwick, finished building the church.
In the 1730s, a historian named Richard Wilkes described the church as "elegant and beautiful." He said it brought "pleasure to all that behold or enter it."
Special Features Inside and Out
The tower at the front has three levels. It has a decorative railing at the top with stone urns and round windows. The rounded back part of the church, the apse, has wide, flat columns called pilasters.
Inside, the main area has tall, simple columns. The flat ceiling has a deep curved edge. The balconies in the nave cut across the tall, arched windows, making the design unique.
Important Treasures and History
St Modwen's Church is a very important historical building. It is listed as Grade I, which is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in England.
Inside, you can find a baptismal font that is over 500 years old, from the 1400s! There's also a beautiful case for the organ. This case was built in 1771 for an organ made by John Snetzler. You can also see a monument to Lady Fowler, created in 1825 by Sir Richard Westmacott.
Famous Organists of St Modwen's
Anthony Greatorex was the organist at St Modwen's starting in 1771. His son, Thomas Greatorex, who became a famous composer, took over from him as organist. Thomas the younger, another son, later became the organist at Holy Trinity Church in Burton upon Trent.
Joining Services at St Modwen's
You can attend regular church services at St Modwen's. On Sunday mornings, services are held at 11:00 AM. These include Holy Communion on the first and third Sundays, and Matins on the second and fourth Sundays.
There is also a Holy Communion service on Wednesdays at 10:45 AM. The church is often open on Saturdays between 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM. During these times, you can often find refreshments available.
The vicar (the main priest) for St Modwen's also leads services at St Paul's and St Aidan's churches.
