St. Mary the Virgin, Wotton-under-Edge
Encyclopedia
One of the oldest churches in its area, St. Mary's was consecrated on the 19 August 1283 by Bishop of Worcester
, Godfrey Giffard
. It is believed that most of the church as it is today was completed in 1325, some 171 years after its first recorded vicar
, Gerinus, in 1154. It is one of six churches in the town of Wotton-under-Edge
that together span four denominations
.
was built in the 1830s and contains charity boards that were originally from the galleries, located at the west end of the church. The sacristy contains clothing for the acolytes and minister, as well as other items used within the service.
is all that remains of the 16th century roof that covered the nave
. The reredos
(a more recent part of this church) is made from English Oak in 14th Century style to blend in with the historic image of the rest of the church, in memory of Charlotte Sewell, mother of vicar Canon Sewell (1882–1902).
The East Window dates back to the completion of the church in 1325, depicting angels and saints in adoration of Christ.
. Lady Berkeley was responsible for the founding of local comprehensive, Katharine Lady Berkeley's School
. The brasses over their tombs date from 1392 and are thus the second oldest in Gloucestershire
.
is located at the top of the north aisle. It is named after St. Catherine
, not to be confused with Lady Berkeley. The chapel was originally built in medieval times, possibly not long after the actual church. It was enlarged in 1780 to form a vestry
and then restored as a chapel in 1928. It is now used for Friday morning prayer.
is about half way up the west side of the tower, with a clock face
measuring six feet in diameter
. The hands and numbers are made from brass.
by Abel Rudhall. In 1902, during a renovation
of the tower (including the clock), they were hung on steel
frames, and then rehung again in 1960. They sound in the key of E-flat
.
. Positioned in the south-east corner of the church, adjacent to the altar
; it is one of the biggest organs in the county and is famed for having been played by Georg Handel
when in its previous location of St. Martin in the Fields.
The organ was presented to St. Martin in the Fields by King George I
It possesses a large range of stop
s over three manuals and a pedalboard, including two trumpets, six diapasons, a cornopean, and a flute
A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.
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...
, Godfrey Giffard
Godfrey Giffard
Godfrey Giffard was Chancellor of the Exchequer of England, Lord Chancellor of England and Bishop of Worcester.-Early life:Giffard was the son of Hugh Giffard of Boyton in Wiltshire, a royal justice, and of his wife Sibyl, daughter and co-heiress of Walter de Cormeilles...
. It is believed that most of the church as it is today was completed in 1325, some 171 years after its first recorded vicar
Vicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
, Gerinus, in 1154. It is one of six churches in the town of Wotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge
Wotton-under-Edge is a market town within the Stroud district of Gloucestershire, England. Located near the southern end of the Cotswolds, the Cotswold Way long-distance footpath passes through the town. Standing on the B4058 Wotton is about from the M5 motorway. The nearest railway station is...
that together span four denominations
Christian denomination
A Christian denomination is an identifiable religious body under a common name, structure, and doctrine within Christianity. In the Orthodox tradition, Churches are divided often along ethnic and linguistic lines, into separate churches and traditions. Technically, divisions between one group and...
.
Sacristy
The sacristySacristy
A sacristy is a room for keeping vestments and other church furnishings, sacred vessels, and parish records.The sacristy is usually located inside the church, but in some cases it is an annex or separate building...
was built in the 1830s and contains charity boards that were originally from the galleries, located at the west end of the church. The sacristy contains clothing for the acolytes and minister, as well as other items used within the service.
Sanctuary
The roof over the sanctuarySanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
is all that remains of the 16th century roof that covered 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...
. The reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
(a more recent part of this church) is made from English Oak in 14th Century style to blend in with the historic image of the rest of the church, in memory of Charlotte Sewell, mother of vicar Canon Sewell (1882–1902).
The East Window dates back to the completion of the church in 1325, depicting angels and saints in adoration of Christ.
Brasses
This is the area near the sacristy containing the tombs of Lord Thomas IV and Lady Berkeley. Lord Thomas was the Admiral of the King's Fleet and fought in the battle of AgincourtBattle of Agincourt
The Battle of Agincourt was a major English victory against a numerically superior French army in the Hundred Years' War. The battle occurred on Friday, 25 October 1415 , near modern-day Azincourt, in northern France...
. Lady Berkeley was responsible for the founding of local comprehensive, Katharine Lady Berkeley's School
Katharine Lady Berkeley's School
Katharine Lady Berkeley's School is a state comprehensive school near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England, for ages 11 to 18. It was founded by Lady Berkeley for the use of six scholars in 1384 which makes it one of the oldest surviving schools in England, and the oldest state school in the...
. The brasses over their tombs date from 1392 and are thus the second oldest in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
.
Chancel & Choir
The choir stalls were built into the church in 1885, the incredible chandelier that swings above was a gift from clothier William Moore, in 1763 - but is only lit at major events.The Catherine Chapel
The Catharine ChapelChapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
is located at the top of the north aisle. It is named after St. Catherine
Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr Saint Catherine is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius...
, not to be confused with Lady Berkeley. The chapel was originally built in medieval times, possibly not long after the actual church. It was enlarged in 1780 to form a vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
and then restored as a chapel in 1928. It is now used for Friday morning prayer.
Tower
The church tower is located at the west of the church. It was built in six stages, the first two in c.1320, at the time of the church construction. The latter four were built slightly later but completed by the end of the 14th Century.Clock
Built in 1902, the clockClock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
is about half way up the west side of the tower, with a clock face
Clock
A clock is an instrument used to indicate, keep, and co-ordinate time. The word clock is derived ultimately from the Celtic words clagan and clocca meaning "bell". A silent instrument missing such a mechanism has traditionally been known as a timepiece...
measuring six feet in diameter
Diameter
In geometry, a diameter of a circle is any straight line segment that passes through the center of the circle and whose endpoints are on the circle. The diameters are the longest chords of the circle...
. The hands and numbers are made from brass.
Bells
The bells were originally cast in 1756 in GloucesterGloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
by Abel Rudhall. In 1902, during a renovation
Renovation
Renovation is the process of improving a structure. Two prominent types of renovations are commercial and residential.-Process:The process of a renovation, however complex, can usually be broken down into several processes...
of the tower (including the clock), they were hung on steel
Steel
Steel is an alloy that consists mostly of iron and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...
frames, and then rehung again in 1960. They sound in the key of E-flat
E-flat
E-flat may refer to:* E♭ * E-flat major* E-flat minor* E-flat tuning, on a guitar...
.
The Organ
The church is perhaps best known for its large organOrgan (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
. Positioned in the south-east corner of the church, adjacent to the altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
; it is one of the biggest organs in the county and is famed for having been played by Georg Handel
Georg Händel
Georg Händel was a barber-surgeon and the father of Georg Frideric Handel. As a young man he had to stop attending grammar school when his father Valentin died and had to give up his aspirations to become a lawyer...
when in its previous location of St. Martin in the Fields.
The organ was presented to St. Martin in the Fields by King George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
It possesses a large range of stop
Organ stop
An organ stop is a component of a pipe organ that admits pressurized air to a set of organ pipes. Its name comes from the fact that stops can be used selectively by the organist; some can be "on" , while others can be "off" .The term can also refer...
s over three manuals and a pedalboard, including two trumpets, six diapasons, a cornopean, and a flute
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.