User:Nepahwin/blymhillchurch
| St Mary's Church, Blymhill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Anglican |
| District | Diocese of Lichfield |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Parish church |
| Leadership | Linda Beech, Curate |
| Location | |
| Location | Blymhill, Staffordshire, England |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | George Edmund Street |
| Type | Church |
| Completed | 1859 |
| Materials | Sandstone |
St. Mary's Church, Blymhill is an Anglican church in the village of Blymhill, Staffordshire, England (grid reference SJ808121). The building, which is grade I listed, was constructed in the 14th century and restored and extended in the 18th and 19th centuries. St. Mary's is an active parish church with Linda Beech as curate.
History
There has been a church at Blymhill from an early date. Until the end of the 11th century it was attached to the collegiate church of Gnosall, which it served as a chapel of ease. In c. 1200 a separate rectory was established at Blymhill when William, son of John Bagot, the then Lord of Blymhill, acquired the right of presentation of himself and his heirs. A full list of rectors from that date is extant.[1]
The present church dates from the mid 14th century and is thought to lie on the same site as the former chapel of ease[2]. It is thought to have been built during the incumbency of Stephen de Bromley who was rector between 1349 and c. 1379. There is an arched recess outside the south wall of the chancel (a position often occupied by the founders tomb) containing a weathered stone coffin that is thought to be Bromley's.[3].
The church underwent significant alterations in c. 1719[4] during which the gothic windows of the nave and south aisle were replaced by large and fashionable round-headed windows. A view of the church in 1797, after these alterations, is shown on this page. The gothic windows were re-introduced during a substantial restoration in 1858-59 by the architect George Street along with the present vestry and new oak choir stalls, oak pews, pulpit and font. The sentences below, from work authorization, explain the other major changes:
George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman Clerk Rector ... are authorised and empowered to take down the gallery on the West side (Tower end) and the wall on the north side of the said Church, to widen and extend the same on the North side, to make an aisle on the same side, to stop up the present entrance (through the Tower) and to erect a Porch on the North side, and to erect new roofs over the whole Church.
Steet's restoration left the interior too dark and so, in 1861, two new plain diamond windows were added to the south wall and in 1876 dormer windows, rarely seen in churches, were built into the south aisle roof.
St. Chad's chapel at the east end of the north aisle was constructed in 1936 as a gift of the Rev. E.R.O. Bridgeman. St. Chad preached in the vicinity of Blymhill in the 7th century, consecrating wells at nearby Great Chatwell and Chadwell.
Windows
Dormer windows
To increase the amount of light in the church two plain diamond glass windows were added to the south aisle wall. In 1876 more light was let in when dormer windows were built into the south aisle; these are an uncommon feature in churches.
St. Chad's Chapel
The chapel at the east end of the north aisle was constructed in 1936 as a gift of the Rev. E.R.O. Bridgeman. St. Chad preached in the vicinity of Blymhill, consecrating wells at nearby Great Chatwell and Chadwell.
Notable incumbents
Dates of incumbency are in parentheses.
- Samuel Dickenson (January 9, 1777 – May 15, 1823) – botanist
- George Thomas Orlando Bridgeman (? – ?) – antiquary
Services
Notes
- ^ A copy of the list, which begins 'About 1200 Herbert de Blakenhall', can be found hanging inside the church.
- ^ During the 1858-59 restoration a portion of the original wall was taken down and built up inside the wall there were found portions of the mullions of the windows of an earlier church together with old tombstones and crosses, placed face down. The latter can be found laid into the chancel floor.
- ^ Only the head and foot of an ornamental cross remain visible.
- ^ White, W, 'History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Staffordshire and the City and County of the City of Lichfield', R. Leader, 1834, pp. 477.
References
Bridgeman, George T. O., 'Some Account of the Manor & Parish of Blymhill, in the County of Stafford' in 'Collections for a History of Staffordshire', Vol. 1 (1880), Vol. 2 (1881), Staffordshire Record Society (formerly William Salt Archaeological Society).
B.D.R., 'History of Blymhill Church 1200-1990', booklet published by the church.