CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN
WELLINGBOROUGH, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE
AIDAN MCRAE THOMSON
&
PAUL SCOTT
SATELLITE VIEW
Wellingborough [pronunciation WEL+ing+bruh] is a Midlands town approximately halfway between Cambridge and Coventry. The Church of St Mary the Virgin is about a kilometre from the town centre, following east along Knox Road.
From the satellite view we see that the axis of the Church is almost exactly east-west with the sanctuary to the east, so our liturgical directions (with capitals) and geographical directions can be taken to coincide.
We see that the Church has a rectangular nave in three parts, having a high central section and two almost full-length side aisles. There is a large square West tower. At the Eastern end, a large rectangular side chapel is attached to the aisle on either side, and there are a couple of further attachments: a North porch (top), and at the Eastern end, probably a vestry. Keen observers will also notice two small round towers.
We shall begin our exploration from Knox Road at top left, and circumnavigate the Church in an anticlockwise direction, before making an entry through the North porch.
A brief history of this Church is given below. However, if you want to begin your tour of the Church immediately, tap / click on START . You can also access intermediate points in the tour by a tap / click on the following links:
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HISTORY
Years Built: 1908–1930
Address: Knox Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire
Simon Jenkins Rating: ****
55 Major British Churches: √
The Church of St Mary the Virgin is a Church of England parish church in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. The church is a Grade I listed building.
History
The church was built from 1908 to 1930, and was designed by Sir Ninian Comper. It is in the Perpendicular Gothic style. The design and interior of the church was influenced by the Oxford Movement and the Victorian revival of ritualism. Financing of the work was largely due to the Misses Sharman of Wellingborough.
On 9 June 1970, St Mary’s Church was designated a Grade I listed building. It is one of only a few Grade I listed buildings built in the 20th century.
Present day
The parish of St Mary the Virgin Wellingborough is in the Archdeaconry of Northampton in the Diocese of Peterborough.
St Mary’s stands in the Traditional Catholic tradition of the Church of England. As the parish has passed resolutions to reject the ordination of women, it receives alternative episcopal oversight from the Bishop of Richborough (currently Norman Banks). It is also affiliated with Forward in Faith and The Society.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_of_St_Mary_the_Virgin,_Wellingborough
