Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Hucknall
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Hucknall
, Nottinghamshire
, is a parish church
in the Church of England
.
The church is Grade II* listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a particularly significant building of more than local interest.
work which began in 1872. The south aisle was added by Evans and Jolly between 1872 and 1874, and the transepts by R. C. Clarke in 1887 and 1888. In 1888 the Lady Chapel was re-built, a beautiful example of nineteenth century craftsmanship. The Victorian baptistery which used to contain the 14th century font has now been converted into a Visitor Centre where display boards and wall panels give visitors a chance to find out a little more about the Church. There are also many beautiful carvings and wall mosaics around the church.
In 2004, there was a carved stone cross, a Khatchkar, given to the church in memory of the work that the rector had done for Armenia
. The stone which had been at Holgate School
was given in thanks for the British people's contributions which enable the rebuilding of Lord Byron School
in Gyumri
which had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1988. It was thought that the original stone may have been damaged by football fans
who confused Armenia with Albania
.
and his daughter Ada Lovelace
are buried at this church. There is a modest memorial to Lord Byron in the church.
Other notable people buried here include, Ben Caunt, a boxer, and the philanthropist
, Zachariah Green
.
which were added mostly in the 1880s. The church holds one of the largest collections of stained glass by this artist.
dating from 1869.
. The Angelus bell has an unknown weight because it is so old the ringers are afraid of it breaking if it were moved from the tower.
Bell Weight Tuning
Treble 4-0-22 F#
2nd 4-1-14 E#
3rd 4-3-16 D#
4th 5-2-0 C#
5th 6-2-8 B
6th 7-1-6 A#
7th 9-1-12 G#
Tenor 12-2-16 F# To The Glory Of God.
Angelus Bell C#
for their chapel and an electronic organ was installed in 1992.
Hucknall
Hucknall, formerly known as Hucknall Torkard, is a town in Greater Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England, in the district of Ashfield. The town was historically a centre for framework knitting and then for mining but is now a focus for other industries as well providing housing for workers in...
, Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
, is a parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
.
The church is Grade II* listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as it is a particularly significant building of more than local interest.
Background
It is set in a peaceful churchyard overlooking the market place in the centre of the town. The building itself is of great architectural interest and is built on the site of an old Saxon church. The church tower which stands high above the town was constructed in stages between the 12th and 14th century whilst the porch was built in 1320. The medieval church consisted only of a chancel, nave, north aisle and tower but it was considerably enlarged in the Victorian period. The top stage of the tower is 14th century as is the south porch. The rest of the building is the result of extensive restorationVictorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
work which began in 1872. The south aisle was added by Evans and Jolly between 1872 and 1874, and the transepts by R. C. Clarke in 1887 and 1888. In 1888 the Lady Chapel was re-built, a beautiful example of nineteenth century craftsmanship. The Victorian baptistery which used to contain the 14th century font has now been converted into a Visitor Centre where display boards and wall panels give visitors a chance to find out a little more about the Church. There are also many beautiful carvings and wall mosaics around the church.
In 2004, there was a carved stone cross, a Khatchkar, given to the church in memory of the work that the rector had done for Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. The stone which had been at Holgate School
Holgate School (Hucknall)
Holgate School is a specialist "School of arts" in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, England, a former mining community north of Nottingham. The school has a centre for deaf students and the sixth form serves both the secondary schools in Hucknall...
was given in thanks for the British people's contributions which enable the rebuilding of Lord Byron School
Lord Byron School (Gyumri)
Lord Byron School #20 was founded in 1988 in Gyumri following the Spitak earthquake that devastated the city, by funds provided by the British Government as well as donations raised by the British people...
in Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
which had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1988. It was thought that the original stone may have been damaged by football fans
Football hooliganism
Football hooliganism, sometimes referred to by the British media as the English Disease, is unruly and destructive behaviour—such as brawls, vandalism and intimidation—by association football club fans...
who confused Armenia with Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
.
Current parish status
It is in a group of parishes which includes:- Church of St. John the Evangelist, HucknallChurch of St. John the Evangelist, HucknallThe Church of St. John the Evangelist, Hucknall is a parish church in the Church of England in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.-History:The church was built between 1876 and 1877 by the architects Bakewell and Bromley....
- Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Hucknall
- Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, HucknallChurch of St. Peter and St. Paul, HucknallThe Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Hucknall is a parish church in the Church of England in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire.-History:The church was built in 1956 and further extended in 1985. It is a hexagonal shaped building. It has a total immersion baptistery....
Notable burials
Lord ByronGeorge Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, later George Gordon Noel, 6th Baron Byron, FRS , commonly known simply as Lord Byron, was a British poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement...
and his daughter Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace
Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace , born Augusta Ada Byron, was an English writer chiefly known for her work on Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the analytical engine...
are buried at this church. There is a modest memorial to Lord Byron in the church.
Other notable people buried here include, Ben Caunt, a boxer, and the philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, Zachariah Green
Zachariah Green
Zechariah Richard Green was a renowned philanthropist and healer.He was born in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, England....
.
Stained glass windows
There are 25 stained glass windows by Charles Eamer KempeCharles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe was a well-known Victorian stained glass designer. After attending Twyford School, he studied for the priesthood at Pembroke College, Oxford, but it became clear that his severe stammer would be an impediment to preaching...
which were added mostly in the 1880s. The church holds one of the largest collections of stained glass by this artist.
Painting
There is a picture of Christ and the woman taken in adultery by Daniel MacliseDaniel Maclise
Daniel Maclise was an Irish history, literary and portrait painter, and illustrator, who worked for most of his life in London, England.-Early life:...
dating from 1869.
Bells
St Mary Magdalene has a ring of eight bells (12 cwt) installed in 1958 and a 14th century Angelus bell, given to the church by the poet Lord ByronGeorge Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron
George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron, later George Gordon Noel, 6th Baron Byron, FRS , commonly known simply as Lord Byron, was a British poet and a leading figure in the Romantic movement...
. The Angelus bell has an unknown weight because it is so old the ringers are afraid of it breaking if it were moved from the tower.
Bell Weight Tuning
Treble 4-0-22 F#
2nd 4-1-14 E#
3rd 4-3-16 D#
4th 5-2-0 C#
5th 6-2-8 B
6th 7-1-6 A#
7th 9-1-12 G#
Tenor 12-2-16 F# To The Glory Of God.
Angelus Bell C#
Clock
The mechanically driven clock with a face on all four sides of the tower dates from 1882, and has to be wound up once a week. The clock has three weights, one for keeping time, one for the chimes and one for the clock faces. The chimes chime the 5th, 6th and 7th bells.Organ
The church had a pipe organ by Nigel Church installed in 1976. This was later sold to Sedbergh SchoolSedbergh School
Sedbergh School is a boarding school in Sedbergh, Cumbria, for boys and girls aged 13 to 18. Nestled in the Howgill Fells, it is known for sporting sides, such as its Rugby Union 1st XV.-Background:...
for their chapel and an electronic organ was installed in 1992.