St Mary The Virgin's Church, Great Bardfield

Church Details


Visited
23/10/2005
Locking Status
Open during daytime hours - this can vary though - so avoid very early or very late attempts to visit.
Built
C14

External Images

St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - St Mary the Virgin is seen here, from the south-east. There has been a church on this site since 1174, though the earliest part of the present building is the tower.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - This view of the church shows the S aisle, complete with late C14 windows.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - As stated, the oldest part of the church is the tower, which dates from the early C14.The church's guide states that the tower was, until 1961, covered in plaster and cement.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - From the church's guide - "...the interior of the Church became so damp that in 1990 it was decided to excavate a dry area around the perimeter. During these excavations, a lower foundation was revealed, which according to the County Archaeology Department suggests that the original tower foundations were badly laid and misaligned and that this was only corrected when the tower structure was actually built in the 12th century..."

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The giant clock was dedicated on August 26th 1912, commemorating the coronation of George V in 1911.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The chancel E wall.

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Internal Images

St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - Looking E inside the church, the chief treasure can clearly be seen.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The stone screen is one of only three medieval stone screens of this type in the world...the other two being found at nearby Stebbing, and Trondheim in Norway.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The screen is in the perpendicular style dating it, later than Stebbing, to the latter half of the C14.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The screen, illuminated a little more, showing the rich cusping and crocketing, and use of ogee arches.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The chancel. I cannot help but feel that the organ steals most of the light from this area.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The N aisle from the nave.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church

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Glass Images

St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - Partially obscured - this is the E window. Our Lord In Glory by Mr E Bodley, R.A. - late C19

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - West wall lancet. Christ on the Cross, supported by two angels. Figures at foot of cross alleged to be of the Virgin Mary, Mary Magdalene and St. John - from church guide.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - A rather dark window to photograph. This window represents the introduction of Christianity into England from Italy. In memory of Lionel Lampet, vicar of this parish 1867-1921.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The E window of the S chapel. The Three Apostles St James, St Peter and St John.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - S chapel - easternmost window of S wall, showing the Incarnation Shows the Blessed Virgin Mary with Isaiah and St John the Baptist. The quatrefoils show Arms of the Diocese, Royal Arms and Lampet Arms quartered with Sparrow Arms.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - S chapel - W wall, represnting The Good Shepherd with St Cedd & St Aidan.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - N aisle - W wall, representing "The Three Famous Mothers" - St Monica, St Anne and St Helena. The memorial inscription reads "Rose Helen Kirwan widow of the late Reverend Richard Kirwan and daughter of the late B E Lampet".

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - N aisle, representing the Three Great Teachers of the Blessed Trinity. St Patrick, St Augustine of Hippo and St Athanasius.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - N aisle, representing the Three English Saints. St George, Edward the Confessor and St Alban.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - N aisle, W window, representing the Three Marys. Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of Jesus and Mary, mother of Cleophas. In memory of Amy Julia Lampet, died aged 26 in 1876.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - Chancel N wall - Three Girl Saints. St Margaret, St Agnes & St Cecilia. In memory of Adela Minna Lampet, who died, aged 13 years on November 14th 1873.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - Chancel N wall - representing St Cedd. In memory of Revd Richard Masheder, vicar 1947-1974.

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Miscellaneous Images

St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - Closer detail of the screen.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - The rood figures seen here date from 1892, and are due to Bodley.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church

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Postcard Images

St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - Many thanks to Brenda Jones of New Zealand for supplying this postcard.

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St Mary the Virgin, Great Bardfield Church - Many thanks to Brenda Jones of New Zealand for supplying this postcard.

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