Southwick: St Mary the Virgin

Name:
Southwick: St Mary the Virgin
Record Type:
Church
Church code:
628311
Diocese:
Peterborough
Archdeaconry:
Oakham
Parish:
Southwick

Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?
This is a Grade II* Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?
There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

The church is not in a Conservation Area

Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?
This church is not on the Heritage at Risk Register
 

Approximate Date

Approximate Date:
Post Medieval

Exterior Image

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Summary Description

The tower is well buttressed and unusually decorated. The first is accounted for by the susceptibility of the earth to subside on account of the Romans extracting iron stone from the vicinity. The latter from the patronage of Sir John Knyvet, Lord Chancellor to Edward III who owned the estate here and whose family commenced the building of adjacent Southwick Hall. The tower itself contains three shields on the north front showing the arms of Knyvet, on the south those of the Bassett family, both coming together on the west front. They record the marriage of Sir John to Elizabeth Bassett in 1381. High above the spire is decorated with crockets and unusual lucarnes (gabled openings). After this point you say goodbye to the medieval period as the chancel and nave were rebuilt as a Georgian box in the 1760’s and in doing this provided space for the great treasure of the church the tomb of George Lynn (d. 1758). This is a late work by Louis Francois Roubiliac (c.1705-1762) the outstanding sculptor of the first part of the 18th century who trained in Dresden and Paris before arriving here in 1730. Lynn is seen in profile in an oval medallion which hangs against a flattened obelisk held in place by billowing draperies. Beneath his widow tends his urn leaning on a tomb chest – note the nonchalance of her slippers. All is as Roubiliac intended even down to the iron railings which still protect the monument (not a inexpensive undertaking : the sculptor charged £500 in 1759). The pure 18th century atmosphere of the church was transformed in the 1860’s when gothic windows were introduced and the walls were shorn of their plasterwork.

Visiting and Facilities

The church is open for worship.
Often open but if assistance required contact Rosemary Coates 01832 274589 or Sue Cartwright 01832 274193 or Rev. Hindle 01832 281512
 

Church Website

Church Website:
http://www.warmingtonbenefice.org.uk

Sources and Further Information

John Roan (2015) Interior image of Southwick St Mary's [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Interior image of Southwick St Mary's
Unknown (2008) External image of 628311 Southwick St Mary the Virgin [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
External image of 628311 Southwick St Mary the Virgin
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/16668/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 2 Bells [Archive/Index]
2 Bells