Church Heritage Record 627130

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Core DetailsLocationBuildingInteriorChurchyardSignificanceEnvironmentForumAudit

Banbury: St Mary

Name:

This is the church’s legal name as given by the Church Commissioners.

Banbury: St Mary
Record Type:

A classification of the current status of the building

Major Parish Church
Church code:

This is a unique identification number supplied to each church building by the Church Commissioners.

627130
Diocese:

Name of diocese in which the church building is located at the time of entry.

Oxford
Archdeaconry:

Name of archdeaconry in which the church building is located at the time of entry

Dorchester
Parish:

This is the legal name of the parish as given by the Church Commissioners.

Banbury St. Mary

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Statutory Designation Information

Listed Building?

The decision to put a church building on the National Heritage List for England and assign it a listing grade is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is normally based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on the historic environment.

This is a Grade I Listed Building
View more information about this Listed Building on the National Heritage List for England web site
Scheduled Monument?

The decision to schedule a feature (building, monument, archaeological remains, etc.) located within the church building’s precinct or churchyard is made by the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport. The decision is based on recommendations made by Historic England, the government’s adviser on cultural heritage.

There is no Scheduled Monument within the curtilage or precinct

National Park

National Parks are areas of countryside that include villages and towns, which are protected because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. In England, National Parks are designated by Natural England, the government’s advisor on the natural environment.

The church is not in a National Park

Conservation Area

Conservation areas are places of special architectural or historic interest where it is desirable to preserve and enhance the character and appearance of such areas. Conservation Areas are designated by the Local Council.

The church is in the following Conservation Area: Banbury

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Heritage At Risk Status

On Heritage At Risk Register?

The Heritage at Risk programme is run and managed by Historic England, the government’s advisor on cultural heritage. It aims to protect and manage the historic environment, so that the number of ‘at risk’ historic places and sites across England are reduced.

This church is on the Heritage at Risk Register (data verified 14 Nov 2024)
View more information about this church on the Heritage at Risk website
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Approximate Date

Approximate Date:

Selecting a single date for the construction of a church building can sometimes be very difficult as most CoE buildings have seen many phases of development over time. The CHR allows you to record a time period rather than a specific date.

The CHR records the time period for the building’s predominant fabric as opposed to the date of the earliest fabric or the church’s foundation date.

Post Medieval

Exterior Image

Exterior image of 627130 Banbury St Mary
Caption:

603242 

Exterior image of 627130 Banbury St Mary
Description:

It seems to be the wrong photograph. Provided coordinates come up with another church on geograph.org.uk

Photograph of St Mary's church, taken from the west.
Year / Date:

2011, April 06

21st August 2011
Copyright:

Keltek Trust

This file is licenced under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic licence.
Originator:

Keltek Trust

Tom Bastin

Summary Description

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Church. c.1790. By S.P. Cockerell. Tower and portico 1818-1822 by C.R. Cockerell. Internal alterations c.1858-59 for the Revd. William Wilson and c.l863-81 for the Revd. Henry Back. Second stage of alterations carried out by the architect Arthur Blomfield. The church is the only Grade I listed building in Banbury and is one of the larger churches of the region.

Visiting and Facilities

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The church is open for worship.
Facilities include toilets (accessible), parking, ramped entrance, and the church is guide-dog friendly. Services: Sundays- 8am communion, 9:30am CofE parish communion, 11:15am URC morning worship, 6pm evening worship. Thursdays (alternate weeks)- 10:30am mid week communion. Fridays- 12pm prayer Other events are held at the church throughout the week.
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Church Website

Church Website:

www.holytrinitylyonsdown.org.uk

http://www.banburystmary.org.uk

Sources and Further Information

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Tom Bastin (21st August 2011) Exterior image of 627130 Banbury St Mary [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Exterior image of 627130 Banbury St Mary
Antiquarian Horological Society (2015) AHS Turret Clock database Unique Number ID: 1430 [Digital Archive/Data]
20/05/2017
http://www.ahstcg.org
PCC (2017) Plan [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Plan
PCC (2017) Plan [Digital Archive/Graphic material]
Plan
Church of England (2021) A Church Near You https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/21/ [Digital Archive/Index]
View information on worship and access at this church
Church Buildings Council (2019) Church Bells 13 Bells [Archive/Index]
13 Bells

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: SP 454 405

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Administrative Area

County:

The administrative area within which the church is located.

Oxfordshire County

Location and Setting

This field describes the setting of the church building, i.e. the surroundings in which the church building is experienced, and whether or not it makes a positive or negative contribution to the significance of the building.

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Church Plan

Plan
Caption:
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Plan
Description:
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Year / Date:
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2017
Copyright:
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Nick Cox Architects
Originator:
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PCC

Ground Plan Description and Dimensions

Ground Plan

Provide as written description of the ground plan of the church building and well as its dimensions.

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Dimensions

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Footprint of Church buildings (m2):

Small (<199m2)

Medium (200-599m2)

Large (600m-999m2)

Very Large (>1000m2)

1157 m2

Description of Archaeology and History

This field aims to record the archaeological potential of the wider area around the building and churchyard, as well as the history of site.

Church. c.1790. By S.P. Cockerell. Tower and portico 1818-1822 by C.R. Cockerell. Internal alterations c.1858-59 for the Revd. William Wilson and c.l863-81 for the Revd. Henry Back. Second stage of alterations carried out by the architect Arthur Blomfield.

Exterior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the exterior of the church building and the churchyard.

Nave, chancel and west tower. Classical style.

West portico of tower: semi-circular Doric portico with columns and half-dome surmounted by a tower of 3 stages and cupola. Portico has wide triglyph frieze.

Ground floor of rusticated stone. 3 entrances; main entrance and 2 side entrances. All doorways have 8-panelled doors and cornices on consoles. 2 side windows with semi-circular heads. 5 square headed windows to ground floor. First floor has 5 semi-circular headed windows with rusticated, keystoned surrounds.

 

Architects, Artists and Associated People/Organisations

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Who:
Samuel Pepys Cockerell
Role:
Architect
From:
To:
Contribution:
1790 construction C.R. Cockerell constructed tower and portico 1818-1822
Who:
Arthur William Blomfield
Role:
Designer
From:
To:
Contribution:
Interior alterations in secondary stage
Who:
Heaton, Butler & Bayne
Role:
Artist
From:
To:
Contribution:
Stained glass 1864-1881
Who:
Nikolaus Pevsner
Role:
Artist
From:
To:
Contribution:
Imitation mosaic in chancel depicting Christ in majesty 1876
Who:
Gray Baynes & Shew
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:
Who:
Nick Cox
Role:
Architect / Surveyor ICM55
From:
To:
Contribution:

Building Fabric and Features

This field is an index of the building and its major components

Work in progress - can you help?

Building Materials

This field is an index of the building’s material composition

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Interior Image

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Interior Description

This field aims to record a written description of the interior of the church building.

Nave: rusticated ground floor, ashlar above. 5 square headed windows to ground floor. First floor has 5 semi-circular headed windows with rusticated, keystoned surrounds. Moulded cornice. Chancel: pedimented central bay flanked by vestries which have oculi and panelled doors. Northern oculus blocked. Interior: original plan included 90' square nave with 12 Ionic columns supporting a shallow domed roof; galleries surrounded nave on 4 sides: small rectangular chancel; eastern gallery carried organ. Present arrangement is the result of alterations and remodelling by Blomfield. Chancel: apse formed within existing walls of chancel and surmounted by a half-dome, linked to the arch supporting the nave dome by a barrel vault. Nave as originally planned but with gallery on 3 sides only; the eastern gallery pulled down and the organ placed on the north side of the chancel. Side chapels to north and south; Lady chapel to north. Resurrection chapel to south in memory of those killed in 1939-1945 war. Vestries either side of chancel. Staircase with wreathed handrail, balcony and meeting room above. Side entrances in west end also contain staircases to upper floor. Chancel fittings by Blomfield include: low stone walls of chancel with patterns of inlaid marble surrounding choir; choir stalls; altar rails; chancel pavement (Godwin of Lugwardine); organ case (carved in 1874 by Rattee and Kett); pulpit (carved in 1885 by Rattee and Kett); square white font inlaid with marble (by Alfred Claridge); wrought-iron gates to the choir (1902 by Starkie Gardner). Nave fittings: oak pews as per original plan, probably cut down or renewed late C19. Stained glass by Heaton, Butler and Bayne 1864-1881 to Blomfields design. Rich colour scheme designed by Blomfield and executed by Heaton, Butler and Bayne including imitation mosaic (Pevsner) in the chancel, depicting Christ in majesty, 1876. Redecoration in 1960 caused Blomfields unified colour scheme to be lost. Memorials: in marble to Ann Dolly, daughter of Paynton Piggott, d.1824 aged 21, situated in east wall of nave to left of chancel arch; marble memorial to Francis Piggott, d.1790 situated on east wall of nave to right of chancel arch; wall memorials in porch to right of main entrance; stone wall tablet to Iohn Knight and Ioane his wife (he died 22/11/1587, she died 26/12/1590); marble wall tablet to Margareta Knight; marble wall tablet to William Knight (d.20/9/1631).

Internal Fixtures and Fittings

This field is an index of the building’s internal, architectural components. This includes its internal spaces and those areas’ fixtures and fittings (building components which are securely fixed to the church or cathedral).

Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse Internal Fixtures and FittingsInternal Fixtures and Fittings
ALTAR RAIL
BELL (c5)
BELL (c8)
BELL (1c1)
BELL (2c2)
BELL (3c3)
BELL (4c4)
BELL (5c6)
BELL (6c7)
BELL (7c9)
BELL (8c10)
BELL (9c11)
BELL (10c12)
BELL (Sanctus)
CHANCEL
CHAPEL (COMPONENT)
CHOIR
CLOCK (19th Century)
COLUMN
FONT (OBJECT)
MOSAIC (1876)
ORGAN (COMPONENT) (1874)
PEW (OBJECT)
PULPIT (1885)
STAINED GLASS (19th Century)
STAIRCASE
STALL
VESTRY

Portable Furnishings and Artworks

This field is an index of the building’s movable, non-fixed furnishings and artworks.

Work in progress - can you help?

If you notice any errors with the below outlines of your connected churchyards, please email heritageonline@churchofengland.org with the corrections needed.

This could include information on new churchyards, edits to the boundaries shown, or different land characteristics. 

We are working on adding the consecrated land found within local authority cemeteries, and in time, this data will be shown on the map.

Grid Reference: SP 454 405

To zoom into an area hold the SHIFT key down then click and drag a rectangle.

Ecology

This field aims to record a description of the ecology of the churchyard and surrounding setting.

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Ecological Designations

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The everyday wildlife of burial grounds means much to those who visit and cherish them but many burial grounds are so rich in wildlife that they should be designated and specially protected. Few have the legal protection of a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or, in the case of local authority owned cemeteries, Local Nature Reserve. This makes it even more important that they are cared for and protected by the people looking after them.

Many have a non-statutory designation as a recognition of their importance. These non-statutory designations have a variety of names in different regions including Local Wildlife Site, County Wildlife Site, Site of Importance for Nature Conservation or Site of Nature Conservation Importance (Local Wildlife Site is the most common name). Their selection is based on records of the most important, distinctive and threatened species and habitats within a national, regional and local context. This makes them some of our most valuable wildlife areas.

For example, many burial grounds which are designated as Local Wildlife Sites contain species-rich meadow, rich in wildflowers, native grasses and grassland fungi managed by only occasional mowing plus raking. When this is the case, many animals may be present too, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals. This type of grassland was once widespread and has been almost entirely lost from the UK with approximately 3% remaining, so burial grounds with species-rich meadow managed in this way are extremely important for wildlife.

These designations should be considered when planning management or change.

If you think that this or any other burial ground should be designated please contact Caring for God’s Acre (info@cfga.org.uk) to discuss. Many eligible sites have not yet received a designation and can be surveyed and then submitted for consideration.

There are no SSSIs within the curtilage of this Major Parish Church.

There are no Local nature reserves within the curtilage of this Major Parish Church.

There are no Local Wildlife sites within the curtilage of this Major Parish Church.

Evidence of the Presence of Bats

This field aims to record any evidence of the presence of bats in the church building or churchyard.

The church has no evidence of bats

Burial and War Grave Information

This field records basic information about the presence of a churchyard and its use as a burial ground.

It is unknown whether the church or churchyard is consecrated. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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It is unknown whether the churchyard is closed for burial. Work in progress - can you help?
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The churchyard does not have war graves.

National Heritage List for England Designations

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There are no Scheduled Monuments within the curtilage of this Major Parish Church.

Designation TypeNameGrade  
Listed Building Gatepiers Of St Marys Churchyard II View more
Listed Building Chest Tomb Approximately 5 Metres East Of Chancel Of Church Of St Mary II View more
Listed Building Chest Tomb Approximately 15 Metres South East Of Chancel Of Church Of St Mary II View more
Listed Building Tomb Effigy Approximately 25 Metres South East Of Church Of St. Mary II View more
Listed Building Row Of 29 Headstones Ranged Along North Wall, Church Of St Mary II View more
Listed Building Chest Tomb, With Corner Balusters, Approximately 5 Metres East Of Chancel Of Church Of St Mary II View more
Listed Building Font Approximately 26 Metres South East Of Church Of St Mary II View more
Listed Building 3 Chest Tombs Approximately 24 Metres South East Of Chancel, Church Of St Mary II View more
Listed Building Chest Tomb Approximately 50 Metres North West Of Portico, Church Of St Mary II View more
Listed Building Thorn Chest Tomb Approximately 5 Metres East Of Chancel Of Church Of St Mary II View more
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Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees

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Churchyards are home to fantastic trees, in particular ancient and veteran trees which can be the oldest indication of a sacred space and be features of extraordinary individuality. The UK holds a globally important population of ancient and veteran yew trees of which three-quarters are found in the churchyards of England and Wales.

There are more than 1,000 ancient and veteran yews aged at least 500 years in these churchyards.

To put this in context, the only other part of western Europe with a known significant yew population is Normandy in northern France, where more than 100 ancient or veteran churchyard yews have been recorded.

Burial grounds may contain veteran and ancient trees of other species such as sweet chestnut or small-leaved lime which, whilst maybe not so old as the yews, are still important for wildlife and may be home to many other species.

Specialist advice is needed when managing these wonderful trees. For more information or to seek advice please contact Caring for God’s Acre, The Ancient Yew Group and The Woodland Trust.

If you know of an ancient or veteran tree in a burial ground that is not listed here please contact Caring for God’s Acre.

There are currently no Ancient, Veteran or Notable trees connected to this Major Parish Church

Churchyard Structures

This field is an index of the churchyard’s components.

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Significance

Setting Significance Level:

Significance is the whole set of reasons why people value a church, whether as a place for worship and mission, as an historic building that is part of the national heritage, as a focus for the local community, as a familiar landmark or for any other reasons.

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Setting Significance Description:
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Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Level:
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Work in progress - can you help?
Fabric Significance Description:
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Interior Significance Level:
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Work in progress - can you help?
Interior Significance Description:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Level:
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Work in progress - can you help?
Community Significance Description:
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Church Renewables

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Open the map of church renewable installations
Solar PV Panels:

This information forms part of the Shrinking the Footprint project.

No
Solar Thermal Panels:
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No
Bio Mass:
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No
Air Source Heat Pump:
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No
Ground Source Heat Pump:
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No
Wind Turbine:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
No
EV Car Charging:
Missing help text - to be added by an administrator
Unknown

Species Summary

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All of the species listed below have been recorded in close proximity to the Major Parish Church . A few species which are particularly threatened and affected by disturbance may not be listed here because their exact location cannot be shared.

NOTE: Be aware that this dataset is growing, and the species totals may change once the National Biodiversity Network has added further records. Species may be present but not recorded and still await discovery.

CategoryTotal species recorded to date
TOTAL NUMBER OF SPECIES RECORDED 63
Total number of animal species 1
Total number of plant species 62
Total number of mammal species 0
Total number of birds 1
Total number of amphibian and reptile species 0
Total number of invertebrate species 0
Total number of fungi species 0
Total number of mosses and liverworts (bryophytes) 0
Total number of ferns 1
Total number of flowering plants 60
Total number of Gymnosperm and Ginkgo 1

Caring for God’s Acre is a conservation charity working to support groups and individuals to investigate, care for, and enjoy the wildlife and heritage treasures found within churchyards and other burial grounds. Look on their website for information and advice and please contact their staff directly. They can help you manage this churchyard for people and wildlife.

To learn more about all of the species recorded against this church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas. You can check the spread of records through the years, discovering what has been recorded and when, plus what discoveries might remain to be uncovered.

‘Seek Advice’ Species

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If any of the following species have been seen close to the Major Parish Church, it is important to seek advice from an expert. You will need to know if they are present now, and to follow expert recommendations when planning works. All of these species have specific legal protection as a recognition of their rarity. All of them are rare or becoming increasingly endangered, so it is important to ensure that management and other works do not adversely affect them. In addition, there may be things you can do to help these special species. N.B. Swift and House Martin do not have specific legal protection but are included, as roof repair works often impact breeding swifts and house martins which is against the law.

This is not a complete list of protected species, there are many more, but these are ones that are more likely to be found. All wild birds, their nests and eggs are also protected by law, as are all bats and veteran trees. In a few cases, species are considered particularly prone to disturbance or destruction by people, so the exact location of where they were recorded is not publicly available but can be requested. These ‘blurred’ records are included here, and the accuracy is to 1km. This means that the species has been recorded in close proximity to the Major Parish Church, or a maximum of 1km away from it. As these ‘blurred’ species are quite mobile, there is a strong likelihood that they can occur close to the Major Parish Church. To learn about these special species, use the link provided for each species in the table below

One important species which is not included here is the Peregrine Falcon. This is protected and advice should be sought if peregrines are nesting on a church or cathedral. Peregrine records are ‘blurred’ to 10km, hence the decision not to include records here. Remember too that species not seriously threatened nationally may still be at risk in your region and be sensitive to works. You should check with local experts about this. You may also need to seek advice about invasive species, such as Japanese knotweed and aquatics colonising streams or pools, which can spread in churchyards.

N.B. If a species is not recorded this does not indicate absence. It is always good practice to survey.

Common nameScientific nameHas this species been recorded yet?Is it a ‘blurred’ species? Last recorded sighting
Great Crested Newt
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Triturus cristatusNoNoNone
Natterjack Toad
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Epidalea calamitaNoNoNone
Sand Lizard
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Lacerta agilisNoNoNone
Common Lizard
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Zootoca viviparaNoNoNone
Adder
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Vipera berusNoNoNone
Grass Snake
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Natrix helveticaNoNoNone
Smooth Snake
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Coronella austriacaNoNoNone
Slow-worm
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Anguis fragilisNoNoNone
Eurasian Red Squirrel
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Sciurus vulgarisNoNoNone
Eurasian Badger
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Meles melesNoYesNone
Hazel Dormouse
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Muscardinus avellanariusNoNoNone
Swift
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Apus apusYesNo2013
House Martin
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
Delichon urbicumNoNoNone
Bat
(NBN Atlas opens in new tab)
ChiropteraNoYesNone

Caring for God’s Acre can help and support you in looking after the biodiversity present in this special place. If you know that any of these species occur close to the Major Parish Church and are not recorded here, please contact Caring for God’s Acre with details (info@cfga.org.uk).

To find out more about these and other species recorded against this Major Parish Church, go to the Burial Ground Portal within the NBN Atlas.

The church was the centre of many people’s lives and remains a guide to their cares and concerns. Glimpses into those lives have often come down to us in the stories we heard as children or old photographs discovered in tattered shoe boxes. Perhaps your ancestors even made it into local legend following some fantastic event? You can choose to share those memories with others and record them for future generations on this Forum.

Tell us the story of this building through the lives of those who experienced it. Tell us why this church is important to you and your community.

Upload your photographs, share your videos, or compose your story below using a Facebook, Twitter, Google or Disqus account.

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WhoActionWhen
Liz KitchAdded QI inspectionWed 11 Oct 2023 10:43:46
Liz KitchCreated asset source linkWed 11 Oct 2023 10:43:45
Ava SalzerAdded interior feature typeFri 17 Aug 2018 14:25:01
Ava SalzerAdded interior feature typeFri 17 Aug 2018 14:24:07
Ava SalzerAdded interior feature typeFri 17 Aug 2018 14:23:40
Ava SalzerAdded interior feature typeFri 17 Aug 2018 14:22:45
Ava SalzerModified interior feature typeFri 17 Aug 2018 14:22:13
Ava SalzerAdded interior feature typeFri 17 Aug 2018 14:22:00
Ava SalzerAdded interior feature typeFri 17 Aug 2018 14:21:41
Ava SalzerAdded interior feature typeFri 17 Aug 2018 14:20:27
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