Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Mary Magadalene, Newark-on-Trent 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...

 in Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...

 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...

.

The church is Grade I listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as a building of outstanding architectural or historic interest.

Building

It is notable for the tower and the octagonal spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....

 (236 ft. high), the highest in Nottinghamshire. The central piers remain from the previous church, dating from the 11th or 12th century. The upper parts of the tower and spire were completed about 1350; the nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...

 dates from between 1384 and 1393, and the chancel
Chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...

 from 1489.

The sanctuary is bounded on the south and north by two chantry chapels, the former of which has on one of its panels a remarkable painting from the Dance of Death. There are a few old monuments, and an exceedingly fine brass of the 14th century. There is a hole in the spire which was supposedly made by a musket ball during the Civil War, although there is doubt locally as to the truth of the story. This hole is visible from some parts of the town centre.

It was heavily restored
Victorian 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...

 in the mid nineteenth century by Sir George Gilbert Scott. The reredos was added by Sir Ninian Comper
Ninian Comper
Sir John Ninian Comper was a Scottish-born architect. He was one of the last of the great Gothic Revival architects, noted for his churches and their furnishings...

.

The Magnus Bequest

The church is supported by the Magnus Bequest, a charitable foundation created in the early 1530s by Thomas Magnus
Thomas Magnus
Thomas Magnus, , English administrator and diplomat; Archdeacon of the East Riding of Yorkshire 1504, employed on diplomatic missions 1509-19 and 1524-7; present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold 1520; Privy councillor c.1520; awarded a doctorate by the University of Oxford 1520; canon of Windsor...

, who gave farms and lands in south Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire for a fourfold purpose:
  • The establishment and endowment of a free grammar school
  • The provision and endowment of a song school to ensure the maintenance of a high standard of worship in the parish
  • the provision of a sufficient sum to guarantee the efficient administration of the bequest and proper upkeep of the farms and lands from which the income was to be derived
  • the provision of occasional sums to be used for the general well-being of the church or the town (if there be any surplus after the first three objects had been fully accomplished).

Vicars of Newark

  • 1301 Walter Adam de Coddington
  • 1320 William de Lincoln
  • 1322 Rocelinus or Roslyn
  • 1333 John de Leverton
  • 1349 Thomas de Silkeston
  • 1359 Thomas de Westburgh
  • 1360 Roger de Leverton
  • 1367 William de Nesse
  • 1371 Roger de Leverton
  • 1375 John de Seggefield
  • 1378 John Sharp
  • 1421 John More
  • 1423 Thomas Marshe
  • 1425 Robert Crosslande
  • 1425 Nicholas Ferriby
  • 1445 John Burton
  • 1475 Nicholas Laughton
  • 1476 John Tristrop
  • 1479 John Smythe
  • 1521 Edward Fowke
  • 1521 Sampson Lorde
  • 1532 Henry Lytherlande
  • 1540/2 Robert Chapman
  • 1550 Christopher Sugden
  • 1554 John Taverham
  • 1559 Christopher Sugden
  • 1561 Edward Roodes
  • 1573 Nicholas Clayton
  • 1581 William Smythe
  • 1585 Lawrence Staunton
  • 1588 Edward Holden
  • 1596 William Pell
  • 1597 Bryan Vincent
  • 1601 Joseph Batts
  • 1612 Simon Jacks
  • 1618 Edmund Mason
  • 1628 Samuel Keemel

  • 1629 John Moseley
  • 1642 Henry Trewman
  • 1655 Samuel Hawkes
  • 1660 Thomas White
    Thomas White (bishop)
    -Life:He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge. Having been a vicar of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Newark-on-Trent since 1660, he was chosen bishop of Peterborough in 1685...

    , afterwards Bishop of Peterborough
    Bishop of Peterborough
    The Bishop of Peterborough is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Peterborough in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers the counties of Northamptonshire, Rutland and the Soke of Peterborough in Cambridgeshire...

  • 1666 Richard Pearson
  • 1667 Henry Smith, Prebendary of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

  • 1702 Eli Stanfield
  • 1719 Bemard Wilson, D.D.
  • 1772 Hugh Wade
  • 1776 Charles Fynes
  • 1788 Davies Pennell
  • 1814 William Bartlett
  • 1835 John Garrett Bussell, B.A., Canon of Lincoln Cathedral
    Lincoln Cathedral
    Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...

  • 1874 Josiah Brown Pearson, LL.D. afterwards Bishop of Newcastle, Australia
    Bishop of Newcastle, Australia
    The present bishop of Newcastle in the Anglican Church of Australia is the Right Reverend Brian Farran, who was enthroned on 24 June 2005 at Christ Church Cathedral, Newcastle, New South Wales.-Former bishops:...

  • 1880 Marshall Wild, M.A., Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

  • 1908 Walter Paton Hindley, M.A., Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

  • 1919 James Manders Walker, M.A., D.D., Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

  • 1929 William Kay, DSM, M.C., M.A. Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

    , afterwards Provost
    Provost (religion)
    A provost is a senior official in a number of Christian churches.-Historical Development:The word praepositus was originally applied to any ecclesiastical ruler or dignitary...

     of Blackburn Cathedral
    Blackburn Cathedral
    Blackburn Cathedral, officially known as the Cathedral Church of Blackburn Saint Mary the Virgin, is a cathedral situated in the heart of Blackburn town centre, in Lancashire, England...

  • 1936 Alfred Parkinson, B.A., Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

  • 1944 Lewis Mervyn Charles-Edwards, afterwards Bishop of Worcester
    Bishop of Worcester
    The Bishop of Worcester is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury, England. He is the head of the Diocese of Worcester in the Province of Canterbury...

  • 1948 George William Clarkson, M.A., Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

    , afterwards Bishop of Pontefract
    Bishop of Pontefract
    The Bishop of Pontefract is an episcopal title used by a suffragan bishop of the Church of England Diocese of Wakefield, in the Province of York, England...

  • 1955 John H.D. Grinter, B.A., Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

  • 1963 Eric J. Kingsnorth, F.I.A., Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

  • 1975 Benjamin H. Lewers, M.A., Rector from 1980, afterwards Provost of Derby Cathedral
    Derby Cathedral
    The Cathedral of All Saints , is a cathedral church in the City of Derby, England. It is the seat of the Bishop of Derby, and with an area of around is the smallest Anglican cathedral in England.-History:...

  • 1981 George Miller McMillan Thomson
  • 1988 Roger Anthony John Hill, M.A., Canon of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

  • 2002 Vivian John Enever


Organ

The church possesses a large organ by Hill, Norman and Beard containing much pipework from previous instruments. A specification of the organ can be found in the National Pipe Organ Register at http://www.npor.org.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=D06241.

The Choir

The choir of St Mary Magdalene sings regularly in the church at the 9.30 Eucharist and the 6.30 Choral Evensong. The Choral Foundation was set up by Thomas Magnus in 1532. Today, the choir is formed of around 10 boy and 10 girl choristers, with additional Songmen who sing Alto, Tenor and Bass parts. The church accepted girl choristers in 2008. The choir is the only existing pre-reformation choir outside cathedrals and Oxbridge colleges.

The choir consists of two Head choristers (one boy and one girl), 4 senior choristers, and several full choristers and probationers.

Masters of the Song School

The organist of the church is still known by the old title Master of the Song School. There have been appointments since at least 1532.

  • Robert Kirkby 1531- 1573
  • Peter Newcombe c. 1590
  • Edward Manestie until 1596
  • George Fishburne 1596 - 1636?
  • Thomas Kingstone 1636 - 1641
  • Thomas Heardson 1642 - 1649
  • John Hinton 1649 - 1668
  • John Barlow 1668 -
  • Roland Barlow 1679 - 1682
  • William Farrow 1682 - 1709
  • Thomas Farrow 1709 - 1712
  • John Spencer 1712 - 1731
  • John Murgatroyd 1731 - 1741
  • Walter Cottingham 1741 - 1749
  • Richard Justice 1749 - 1751
  • Samuel Wise 1751 - 1754, latterly organist of Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

     and St. Mary's Church, Nottingham
    St. Mary's Church, Nottingham
    The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest religious foundation in the City of Nottingham, England, the largest church after the Roman Catholic Cathedral and the largest mediæval building in Nottingham....

  • Lloyd Rayner 1754 - 1756, later organist of Lincoln Minster
  • Bailey Marley 1757 - 1758

  • John Alcock 1758 - 1768
  • Thomas Jackson 1768 - 1781
  • John Calah 1782 - 1784
  • William Hunter 1784 - 1802
  • William Brydges 1802 - 1835
  • Edward Dearle 1835 - 1864
  • Samuel Reay 1864 - 1901 (formerly organist of St Thomas the Martyr, Barras Bridge, Newcastle upon Tyne
    Church of St Thomas the Martyr
    The Church of St Thomas the Martyr, Newcastle upon Tyne, is one of the most prominent city centre landmarks, located close to both universities, the city hall and main shopping district in the Haymarket...

  • Sydney H F Weale FRCO LRAM 1901 - 1903
  • William Thompson Wright ARCO RCM 1903 - 1928 (formerly organist of St. Leonard's Church, Newark
    St. Leonard's Church, Newark
    St. Leonard's Church, Newark is a parish church in the Church of England in Newark on Trent, Nottinghamshire.-History:The first church was built in Northgate in 1873 by the architect Evans and Jolly of Nottingham.. It cost £4,000 and was consecrated by Christopher Wordsworth, Bishop of Lincoln on...

    )
  • William A Hall MusDoc 1928 - 1930
  • Edward Francis Reginald Woolley MA ARCO 1930 - 1954 (assistant organist at Lincoln Cathedral
    Lincoln Cathedral
    Lincoln Cathedral is a historic Anglican cathedral in Lincoln in England and seat of the Bishop of Lincoln in the Church of England. It was reputedly the tallest building in the world for 249 years . The central spire collapsed in 1549 and was not rebuilt...

     1926 - 1930)
  • Colin Ingleson FRCO 1954 - 1974
  • Robert Edward Gillman 1974 - 1980
  • Michael Overbury 1980 - 1986 (later organist of Worksop Priory
    Worksop Priory
    Worksop Priory is a Church of England parish church and former priory in the town of Worksop, Nottinghamshire, part of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham....

    )
  • John Webster 1986 - 1992
  • Roger Bryan 1992 - 2006
  • George Richford - 2009 - (former Girls Choir Director and Acting Director of Music at Newcastle Cathedral)

Assistant organists

  • Sydney Weale
    Sydney Weale
    Sydney Harry Franz Weale was an cathedral organist, who served in St Columb's Cathedral, Derry and was borough organist for Stoke on Trent.-Career:Assistant organist of:*St David's Cathedral 1899 - 1901...

     1901 - 1903 (formerly assistant of St. David's Cathedral, afterwards assistant at Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster
    Southwell Minster is a minster and cathedral, in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, England. It is six miles away from Newark-on-Trent and thirteen miles from Mansfield. It is the seat of the Bishop of Southwell and Nottingham and the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.It is considered an outstanding...

    )
  • Colin Ingleson FRCO, 1932–1954
  • Mike Manners 1982
  • Craig Nathan ARC0 1984
  • John Shooter ARCO 1985
  • Robert Sharpe 1989 - 1991 (formerly Assistant Organist of Lichfield Cathedral
    Lichfield Cathedral
    Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...

    , Director of Music at Truro Cathedral
    Truro Cathedral
    The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century, and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom...

     and now Director of Music at York Minster
    York Minster
    York Minster is a Gothic cathedral in York, England and is one of the largest of its kind in Northern Europe alongside Cologne Cathedral. The minster is the seat of the Archbishop of York, the second-highest office of the Church of England, and is the cathedral for the Diocese of York; it is run by...

    .)
  • Malcolm Smith 2009 - 2010
  • Donald Hunt 2011 - present (formerly Organ Scholar of Truro Cathedral
    Truro Cathedral
    The Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Truro is an Anglican cathedral located in the city of Truro, Cornwall, in the United Kingdom. It was built in the Gothic Revival architectural style fashionable during much of the nineteenth century, and is one of only three cathedrals in the United Kingdom...

     (2009-2010) and St. Paul's Cathedral (2010-2011)

Sources

  • The Buildings of England, Nottinghamshire, Nikolaus Pevsner
    Nikolaus Pevsner
    Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...

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