St Mary Magdalene's Church, Tanworth-in-Arden on:
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The Church of St Mary Magdalene is an
British History Online. Retrieved 24 July 2023. The church was built in the period from the 13th century to about 1330–40. It is thought there was originally a chapel built in the early 13th century, where the north aisle now stands; the windows were replaced in the late 13th century with larger windows. The building was soon afterwards enlarged, with the construction of the nave, tower and chancel. The wide east window of the north aisle, wider than that of the chancel, was formerly the east window of the chapel; windows in the south wall of the chapel were moved to the west half of the nave. The spire was rebuilt higher in 1720. In 1790, the arcade between the nave and the north aisle was removed, a gallery was erected across the west wall, and the north and south porches were removed and new doorways made, opening into entrance areas under the gallery. In 1880, the arcade was rebuilt, the gallery was removed, and the north porch was rebuilt. The south porch is more recent.
The following monuments in the churchyard are Grade II-listed: Near the south porch is a monument, in neo-classical style, to Richard Lea (died 1818). It was restored in 1993. There is a chest tomb to Sarah Humphries (died 1793) about 11 metres south of the porch. About 2 metres south of the chancel is a chest tomb in neo-classical style, a memorial to John Horton of Elliotts Hall (died 1817). A chest tomb 9 metres south of the chancel is probably late 18th-century; its inscription is eroded. A chest tomb to Elizabeth, wife of Richard Field of Blackford (died 1819) is about 12 metres south of the chancel.
Anglican
Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of th ...
church in the village of Tanworth-in-Arden
Tanworth-in-Arden (; often abbreviated to Tanworth) is a small village and civil parish in the county of Warwickshire, England. It is southeast of Birmingham and northeast of Redditch, and is administered by Stratford-on-Avon District Council. ...
, in Warwickshire
Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, and the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare at Stratford-upon-Avon an ...
, England, and in the Diocese of Birmingham. The building dates from the 13th and 14th centuries, with modifications in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is Grade I listed
In the United Kingdom, a listed building or listed structure is one that has been placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Historic Environment Scotland in Scotland, in Wales, and the Northern Irel ...
.
History and description
There is achancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse.
Ove ...
, a nave
The nave () is the central part of a church, stretching from the (normally western) main entrance or rear wall, to the transepts, or in a church without transepts, to the chancel. When a church contains side aisles, as in a basilica-type ...
with a wide north aisle, porches and a west tower with a spire.'Parishes: Tanworth', in ''A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 5, Kington Hundred'', ed. L F Salzman (London, 1949), pp. 165-175British History Online. Retrieved 24 July 2023. The church was built in the period from the 13th century to about 1330–40. It is thought there was originally a chapel built in the early 13th century, where the north aisle now stands; the windows were replaced in the late 13th century with larger windows. The building was soon afterwards enlarged, with the construction of the nave, tower and chancel. The wide east window of the north aisle, wider than that of the chancel, was formerly the east window of the chapel; windows in the south wall of the chapel were moved to the west half of the nave. The spire was rebuilt higher in 1720. In 1790, the arcade between the nave and the north aisle was removed, a gallery was erected across the west wall, and the north and south porches were removed and new doorways made, opening into entrance areas under the gallery. In 1880, the arcade was rebuilt, the gallery was removed, and the north porch was rebuilt. The south porch is more recent.
Monuments
There are several brass memorials on the interior walls of the church. There is a large marble monument toThomas Archer
Thomas Archer (1668–1743) was an English Baroque architect, whose work is somewhat overshadowed by that of his
contemporaries Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. His buildings are important as the only ones by an English Baroque architec ...
(died 1685), his wife Anne (died 1685), and Elizabeth (died 1703, aged 29), the wife of Andrew Archer, who erected the monument. There is a neo-classical wall monument to Andrew Archer, 2nd Baron Archer (died 1778), designed by John Hickey.
Churchyard
The graves of the singer-songwriterNick Drake
Nicholas Rodney Drake (19 June 1948 – 25 November 1974) was an English singer-songwriter known for his acoustic guitar-based songs. He did not find a wide audience during his lifetime, but his work gradually achieved wider notice and recognit ...
, and the racing driver Mike Hailwood
Stanley Michael Bailey Hailwood, (2 April 1940 – 23 March 1981) was a British professional motorcycle racer and racing driver. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest racers of all time. He competed in the Grand Prix motorcycle ...
, are in the churchyard.
The following monuments in the churchyard are Grade II-listed: Near the south porch is a monument, in neo-classical style, to Richard Lea (died 1818). It was restored in 1993. There is a chest tomb to Sarah Humphries (died 1793) about 11 metres south of the porch. About 2 metres south of the chancel is a chest tomb in neo-classical style, a memorial to John Horton of Elliotts Hall (died 1817). A chest tomb 9 metres south of the chancel is probably late 18th-century; its inscription is eroded. A chest tomb to Elizabeth, wife of Richard Field of Blackford (died 1819) is about 12 metres south of the chancel.
See also
* Grade I listed buildings in WarwickshireReferences
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tanworth-in-Arden, Church of St Mary Magdalene Grade I listed churches in Warwickshire Church of England church buildings in WarwickshireMary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to crucifixion of Jesus, his cru ...