Nominal: 614.5 Hz Weight: 2126 lbs Diameter: 48.63" Bell 1 of 10
Founded by Richard Phelps & Thomas Lester 1738
Dove Bell ID: 7063 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Wallingford: St Mary le More & All Hallows
Diocese of Oxford
Church, 627543
http://www.marylemore.co.ukOverview
Grid reference: SU 607 893
The Church of St Mary-le-More has stood in a central position in the market place of Wallingford for nearly a millennium. It is believed to occupy the site of the first Christian church in the area, and possibly that of an earlier pre-Christian temple. The patronage of the church belonged from an early date to the Abbey of St Alban’s then in 1506 passed to the Crown and in 1853 to the Bishop of Oxford. The Norman church was rebuilt at the end of the 13th century and then largely reconstructed in 1854 when the nave was lengthened by shortening the chancel and the three arches on each side replaced two wider ones.
Visiting and facilities
Building is open for worship
Building
Ground Plan Description and Dimensions
Footprint of Church buildings: 493 m²
Description of Archaeology and History
The Church of St Mary-le-More has stood in a central position in the market place of Wallingford for nearly a millennium. It is believed to occupy the site of the first Christian church in the area, and possibly that of an earlier pre-Christian temple. The patronage of the church belonged from an early date to the Abbey of St Alban’s then in 1506 passed to the Crown and in 1853 to the Bishop of Oxford. The Norman church was rebuilt at the end of the 13th century and then largely reconstructed in 1854 when the nave was lengthened by shortening the chancel and the three arches on each side replaced two wider ones. The aisles were almost doubled in width. There was major repair and restoration work in 1976 and in 2009 the church was closed for 9 months while a major renewal of the interior took place. The tower is the oldest part of the present church and was re-built in 1653 by William Loader whose name is inscribed on a stone outside on the south west angle of the tower. Much of the stone for the tower was brought from the castle, the demolition of which had begun in 1652.
Exterior Description
The west tower projects a little way forward from the main part of the building. It is roughly square on plan, and is broad both in length and width. At the corners are polygonal buttresses in almost corner turrets - which rise the full height of the tower and are topped at parapet level by pinnacles.
As with the nave and chancel the predominant buildingmaterial is flint, but with quite an amount of freestsone in the way of quoins, (including quoins for the buttresses) and for irregular infilling. The style is Perpendicular or, one might say, Gothic Survival. The two-light louvred belfry openings on all four faces (that on the north largely obscured by the clock face) are Perpendicular, with square hood-moulds. On the north and south faces are curious round-headed windows which look as though they may have been made up from fragments of old stonework, and on the west face are two windows.
The aisles are of four bays, and this is expressed externally by shallow buttresses and a window in each bay. They are of a fairly standard Decorated pattern, mostly two-light windows with a trefoil in the head. There are north and south doorways, though a porch only on the north. The eastern bay of the north aisle has a more elaborate window than the rest: of three lights, with tracery above built up like a pyramid in a row of three trefoils, then two quatrefoils, and a trefoil at the top.
Building Fabric and Features
Stained Glass
c. 1878
East window, a memorial to Lancelot Hedges d.1878.
Stained Glass
c. 1875
The big window in the north aisle has fiercely geometrical glass in memory of the Revd. John Langley. d. 1875.
Stained Glass
1935
The north window of the north chapel is a memorial to members of the Greenwood and Sheen Families and depicts the Visitation. 1935. The east window of the chapel shows the Adoration of the Magi and of the Shepherds.
Stained Glass
c. 1910
A north aisle window in the Pre-Raphaelitemanner depicting the fInnunciation, a memorial to Margaret Dalziel, 'daughter of Col. Legh MP of Lyme Park, Cheshire'. Probably c. 1910.
Stained Glass
1951
A north aisle window by Christopher Powell showing the Birth and Death of the Virgin. A memorial to Henry Watkins Wells, 1855-1932, put up in 1951.
Stained Glass
c. 1854
West window of north aisle. Admirable mid-Victorian glass, a memorial to John Allwatt Hedges. d. 1854. The subject is the Good Samaritan.
Stained Glass
20th Century
The south aisle has three windows with stained glass which are (from east to west): a memorial to Robert Jackson, d. 1909, and similar in style to that to Mararet Dalziel in the north aisle; a window which looks of the 1860's. With four good small panels showing incidents in the Life of Our Lord: and a window, doubtless of 'between the Wars', depicting Our Lord with children and a 'grateful offering from those baptised and confirmed in this church of St. Mary'. It is of some interest in the history of 20th century English stained glass, and it is a pity it is not signed and dated.
Building Materials
Flint
17th Century
Flint
Limestone
17th Century
Limestone
Interior
Interior Description
There is a striking rood screen installed in 1925 as a memorial to members of the Hedges family. The marble reredos in the sanctuary is also a memorial to a member of the Hedges family. The pulpit by Farmer and Brindly is of rare Italian marble with three large panels of sculptured bronze. The simple font is possibly the oldest feature of the church. There is a two-manual organ and a ring of ten bells. It also contains two memorials dating drom the 17th Century, some notable Victorian stained glass windows and below the nave there is a Victorian vault, not accessible at present. Below the floor in the south aisle are remains of a mediaeval outer wall.
Fixtures and fittings
Font (object)
c. 1854
Octagonal stone bowl and stem, with deeply cut trefoils on alternate faces of the bowl. Presumably of 1854.
Bells
Weight: 580 lbs Diameter: 27" Bell 2 of 10
Founded by Whitechapel Bell Foundry 2003
Dove Bell ID: 44046 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Weight: 598 lbs Diameter: 28" Bell 3 of 10
Founded by Whitechapel Bell Foundry 2003
Dove Bell ID: 44047 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1231 Hz Weight: 612 lbs Diameter: 29.38" Bell 4 of 10
Founded by Richard Phelps & Thomas Lester 1738
Dove Bell ID: 44048 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1161 Hz Weight: 603 lbs Diameter: 30.38" Bell 5 of 10
Founded by Mears & Stainbank 1887
Dove Bell ID: 44049 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 1040.5 Hz Weight: 681 lbs Diameter: 31.88" Bell 6 of 10
Founded by Richard Phelps & Thomas Lester 1738
Dove Bell ID: 44050 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 922 Hz Weight: 742 lbs Diameter: 33.5" Bell 7 of 10
Founded by Richard Phelps & Thomas Lester 1738
Dove Bell ID: 44051 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 820 Hz Weight: 978 lbs Diameter: 37.25" Bell 8 of 10
Founded by Richard Phelps & Thomas Lester 1738
Dove Bell ID: 44052 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 776 Hz Weight: 1154 lbs Diameter: 39.14" Bell 9 of 10
Founded by Richard Phelps & Thomas Lester 1738
Dove Bell ID: 44053 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Nominal: 689.5 Hz Weight: 1519 lbs Diameter: 43.63" Bell 10 of 10
Founded by Richard Phelps & Thomas Lester 1738
Dove Bell ID: 44054 Tower ID: 15477 - View Tower Listed: No Canons: Removed Cracked: No
Churchyard
Grid reference: SU 607 893
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.
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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