Guyhirn: St Mary Magdalene
Diocese of Ely
Closed Church, 614337
http://www.guyhirn-online.org.uk/church.shtmlOverview
Grid reference: TF 397 32
A large Victorian Gothic brick church in a rural village location, the church set to the west of the village itself. The “new” parish church was built in 1878, designed by the famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, who died in that year. Externally the church appears almost unchanged since, with the exception of the addition of the small vestry. A tall and impressive building in the Early English Gothic style.
Visiting and facilities
Building is closed for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Ground plan:
Nave of four bays, south-west porch, south vestry, transepts, chancel.
Dimensions:
Nave approx 23m (75 ft) x 8m (25ft).
Footprint of Church buildings: 269 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The village had a medieval church, demolished at some point; it is said to have been on the site of St Mary, and the VCH records that masonry and carved stones were found in the churchyard in the past. The site is therefore likely to be of archaeological significance. In c 1660 a new church was built (a Commonwealth chapel) on a different site, which was given the status of a chapel-of-ease when the present parish church was built. This chapel has since been made redundant and was vested in the RCT/CCT in 1973. The “new” parish church was built in 1878, designed by the famous architect Sir George Gilbert Scott, who died in that year. Externally the church appears almost unchanged since, with the exception of the addition of the small vestry.
Exterior Description
A tall and impressive building in the Early English Gothic style (pointed lancets throughout). The lack of a tower is made up for by the height of the nave, accentuated by the steep roof and use of tall lancets. There are three such of equal height in the west front with double chamfered reveals, above the central of which is a foiled vesica shaped window. Buttresses of two weatherings climb between the windows to a string course between the lancets and vesica. The gable is surmounted by a gabled belcote containing three bells. All gables are coped.
The nave fenestration is of paired lancets within relieving arches dying into buttresses of two weatherings, with a string course at cill level. The transepts have 3-lights of stepped pointed lancets in their outer faces, a small vestry with a lean-to roof is squeezed in between the south transept and nave, pointed doorway on the west side. The east wall of the lower chancel is pierced by a round wheel window above three widely spaced chamfered lancets of equal height, there is a lancet in each side wall.
The timber south porch taking up the west bay on this side is very good, open-sided and nicely carved with a gabled, tiled roof. The ridge tiles have been replaced recently here and to the south transept, in startlingly bright red tiles. There is a pointed arch to the internal doorway. Above the porch is a round window with cinquefoil cusping above.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
The 3 chancel east windows have figurative stained glass, the wheel window above has decorative glass;
- The central lancet has Suffer the Children below and the Crucifixion above in a deeply coloured 14th-century style, dedicated in memory of William Herbert Carpenter, died 1878 aged 46 years. It is flanked by two later windows.
Stained Glass
The 3 chancel east windows have figurative stained glass, the wheel window above has decorative glass;
- the Light of the World (after Holman Hunt) to the left and the resurrected Christ on the right, these windows a pair, very light with grisaille. Both dedicated by the Marriott family, many of whom are buried at Wisbech St Mary.
Building Materials
Brick
Stone
Freestone dressings
Interior
Interior Description
The church is entered through a shallow inner draught lobby of dark-stained panelled wood. It is rather gloomy, lit only by red halogen lamps, the darkened and streaked brick exposed everywhere. There is a huge amount of space inside under the fine open timber roof, which has tie-beams and octagonal king-posts with moulded bases and capitals. The nave is fully pewed with boarded bases, otherwise with black and red quarry tiles, the central walkway laid with red carpet, with the font at the west end.
The high chancel arch is pointed and of two chamfered orders, the inner carried on shafts with moulded capitals and springing from corbels carved with angels carrying instruments. There are also pointed and chamfered arches to the openings to the north organ chamber and south chapel, and a small pointed doorway giving access to the south vestry. The chancel has its original furnishings, with rather good choir stalls with turned balusters and pierced fronts and an encaustic tiled floor, disturbed in places by subsidence. The windows have deeply splayed reveals within rere-arches taken down to engaged columns set in pairs.
Fixtures and fittings
Altar
1878
Heavily moulded oak table
Pulpit
1878
Pulpit of Caen stone, octagonal on marble stem with marble shafts to angles.
Lectern
1878
Oak eagle, given by wife of the Revd Montgomery, Dean of Edinburgh, who gave the site.
Font (object)
1878
Octagonal Caen stone bowl in early English style with carved paired blind lancets in each panel, on a marble stem with eight subsidiary detached shafts, also of marble and each with moulded capital and base.
Font (component)
1979
Font cover also octagonal, oak with gilt ball handle, made by Osbornes of Wisbech in 1979 and dedicated by Aileen Culy.
Organ (object)
Single manual pipe organ by Bishop & son with coved case pierced by trefoils, painted pipes displayed above.
Plaque (object)
Brass plaque to vicar William Carpenter and his wife Elisabeth, died 1902.
Churchyard
Grid reference: TF 397 32
Burial and War Grave Information
It is unknown whether the building is consecrated.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has been used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard is used for burial.
It is unknown whether the churchyard has war graves.
National Heritage record for England designations
There are no records of National Heritage assets within the curtilage of this site.
Environment
Ancient, Veteran & Notable Trees
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 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.
There are no records of Ancient, Veteran or Notable Trees within the curtilage of this site.
Renewables
| Renewable | Installed |
|---|---|
| Solar PV Panels | No |
| Solar Thermal Panels | No |
| Biomass | No |
| Wind Turbine | No |
| Air Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ground Source Heat Pump | No |
| Ev Charging | No |
Species summary
There are no records of species within the curtilage of this site.
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 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
More information on species and action to be taken upon discovery.
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 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.
Further information
Sources
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