Church of St Mary the Virgin, Tetbury

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the parish church of Tetbury in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England. It was built in 1781 incorporating elements of an earlier church. It is a grade I listed building.[1]

Church of St Mary the Virgin
Church of St Mary the Virgin is located in Gloucestershire
Church of St Mary the Virgin
Church of St Mary the Virgin
51°38′12″N 2°09′34″W / 51.6368°N 2.1594°W / 51.6368; -2.1594
DenominationChurch of England
Websitetetburychurch.co.uk
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I listed building
Designated21 March 1985
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseGloucester

History

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The site of a church since the 7th century, and may have been the site of a Saxon monastery.[2] The current building was designed by Francis Hiorne and opened in 1781 replacing a medieval structure which was demolished in 1777.[3] The building cost was £5,059. 12s. 0d.[4]

The 14th century tower and spire of the previous building were retained until it was rebuilt in 1891 using the same stones.[5][2]

Architecture

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The Gothic Revival stone building has a hipped slate and Cotswold stone roof with an embattled parapet.[6] It is a seven-bay hall church with nave, chancel and aisles.[1]

The tower is 57 metres (187 ft) high and is wrongly believed to be the fourth highest in the country.[7] It contains a ring of eight bells most of which were cast in 1722 and all were made by Rudhall of Gloucester.[8][9]

The church has some box pews which are accessed from a passageway around the church rather than the central aisle.[6][5] Stained glass includes work by Clayton and Bell and William Wailes.[1] Two large chandeliers dating from 1781 hang above the nave.[2][10]

Within the church is a roll of honour commemorating those from the parish who served in World War I.[11] There are some effigies in the north aisle passage which were transferred from the earlier building.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Church of St. Mary the Virgin". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  2. ^ a b c "Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin and St Mary Magdalen, Tetbury, Gloucestershire". English Churches by Wasleys. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  3. ^ "History". The Parish Church of St Mary The Virgin and St Mary Magdalen, Tetbury. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  4. ^ "St Mary the Virgin". West Gallery Churches. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b Ross, David. "Tetbury - St Mary the Virgin". Britain Express. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  6. ^ a b Verey, David (2007). Cotswold Churches. The History Press. pp. 154–155. ISBN 978-1845880286.
  7. ^ "St Mary the Virgin, Tetbury". Gloucestershire Historic Churches Trust. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  8. ^ "Bell Ringers". The Parish Church of St Mary The Virgin and St Mary Magdalen, Tetbury. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  9. ^ "Tetbury S Mary V & S Mary Magdalen". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.
  10. ^ Moriarty, Denis (1989). Buildings of the Cotswolds. Gollancz. pp. 185–186. ISBN 978-0575040595.
  11. ^ "Roll of Honour St. Mary the Virgin and St. Mary Magdalen Church". Traces of War. Archived from the original on 15 October 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2020.