St Mary's Church, Thatcham
Encyclopedia
The St Mary's Church is a Church of England parish church
at Thatcham
in the English
county of Berkshire
. The church, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary
.
for more than ten centuries. The original Saxon Minster is thought to have been made of wood. The Normans
built the first stone church around 1140.
A chancel was built about 1220. We know it originally had three tall lancet windows in the east end which probably would have been positioned as shown here.
In 1344, the Earl of Salisbury
, William Montacute of Bisham Manor
, was killed in a jousting
tournament at Windsor
. Crookham
, in Thatcham parish, was one of his many manors and his widow, Katherine, added a low tower to the church in his memory. Work was halted as nearly half the people in the parish died from the Black Death
.
In 1480 a north aisle
was constructed. A short south aisle was also added at an unknown date. Brick porch
es were built on the north and south sides. The sketch above shows the South side.
In 1500 the upper part of the tower was completed and three or four bells were installed. The Chamberhouse or St. Anne's Chapel was built in memory of the judge, Sir William Danvers
, by his widow Anne in 1530.
For the next three hundred years the external appearance of the church changed very little. However there were some changes. Six new bells
were added in 1624; two of the tower pinnacle
s blown down in the violent storms of 1704 were replaced; galleries were added to cope with the larger congregation
in 1819, and the first organ was installed in 1845.
In 1857 the church was completely renovated
. Restoration included the extension of the south aisle
and the altering of the roof line to incorporate it. The Norman doorway, a part of the original church in the twelfth century, was moved from the nave to the south porch where it still spans the entrance today.
Apart from the removal of the pinnacles in the 1970 tower renovations, the exterior of the church remains unchanged. Gas lighting
was installed in September 1867; sixty years later it was replaced by electricity. A new hot water radiator system provided heating in 1919; radiant gas heaters replaced it in 1982. The organ
was completely rebuilt in 1956, with further extensive work in 1982 and 1994. The tower bells were augmented to eight in 1927 and to ten in 1969.
The Meeting Room was constructed at the back of the church in 1979: we were one of the first churches in the Oxford Diocese
to utilise some of our space in this way. Changes in the style of worship
in the 1970s led to the use of a temporary nave altar
, and this was established on a permanent basis with the construction of a dais
and new altar rails in 1989. New exterior doors were added to the porch at the same time.
Floodlights
were installed in 2000 and the heating system replaced in November 2001. Further improvements to access for the disabled and reordering the Chapel
are planned.
Church of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
at Thatcham
Thatcham
Thatcham is a town in Berkshire, England 3 miles east of Newbury and 15 miles west of Reading. It covers about and has a population of 23,000 people . This number has grown rapidly over the last few decades from 5,000 in 1951 and 7,500 in 1961.It lies on the River Kennet, the Kennet and Avon...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
. The church, is dedicated to the Virgin Mary
Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
.
History
A church has existed on this site at ThatchamThatcham
Thatcham is a town in Berkshire, England 3 miles east of Newbury and 15 miles west of Reading. It covers about and has a population of 23,000 people . This number has grown rapidly over the last few decades from 5,000 in 1951 and 7,500 in 1961.It lies on the River Kennet, the Kennet and Avon...
for more than ten centuries. The original Saxon Minster is thought to have been made of wood. The Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
built the first stone church around 1140.
A chancel was built about 1220. We know it originally had three tall lancet windows in the east end which probably would have been positioned as shown here.
In 1344, the Earl of Salisbury
Earl of Salisbury
Earl of Salisbury is a title that has been created several times in British history. It has a complex history, being first created for Patrick de Salisbury in the middle twelfth century. It was eventually inherited by Alice, wife of Thomas, Earl of Lancaster...
, William Montacute of Bisham Manor
Bisham Abbey
Bisham Abbey is a Grade I listed manor house at Bisham in the English county of Berkshire. The name is taken from the now lost monastery which once stood alongside. Bisham Abbey was previously named Bisham Priory, and was the traditional resting place of many Earls of Salisbury...
, was killed in a jousting
Jousting
Jousting is a martial game or hastilude between two knights mounted on horses and using lances, often as part of a tournament.Jousting emerged in the High Middle Ages based on the military use of the lance by heavy cavalry. The first camels tournament was staged in 1066, but jousting itself did not...
tournament at Windsor
Windsor, Berkshire
Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....
. Crookham
Crookham, Berkshire
Crookham is a village in the English county of Berkshire, and part of the civil parish of Greenham.The settlement lies near to the A339 and A4 roads, and is located approximately south-east of Thatcham...
, in Thatcham parish, was one of his many manors and his widow, Katherine, added a low tower to the church in his memory. Work was halted as nearly half the people in the parish died from the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
.
In 1480 a north aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
was constructed. A short south aisle was also added at an unknown date. Brick porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
es were built on the north and south sides. The sketch above shows the South side.
In 1500 the upper part of the tower was completed and three or four bells were installed. The Chamberhouse or St. Anne's Chapel was built in memory of the judge, Sir William Danvers
William Danvers
William Danvers SL JP was a British judge.He was the son of John Danvers and his second wife Joan, and half-brother of Robert Danvers, another notable judge. He became a Justice of the Peace for Oxfordshire in 1456, and served again for Berkshire in 1463. He represented Taunton in Parliament in...
, by his widow Anne in 1530.
For the next three hundred years the external appearance of the church changed very little. However there were some changes. Six new bells
Church bell
A church bell is a bell which is rung in a church either to signify the hour or the time for worshippers to go to church, perhaps to attend a wedding, funeral, or other service...
were added in 1624; two of the tower pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s blown down in the violent storms of 1704 were replaced; galleries were added to cope with the larger congregation
Local church
A local church is a Christian congregation of members and clergy.Local church may also refer to:* Local churches , a Christian group based on the teachings of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee, and associated with the Living Stream Ministry publishing house.* Parish church, a local church united with...
in 1819, and the first organ was installed in 1845.
In 1857 the church was completely renovated
Victorian restoration
Victorian restoration is the term commonly used to refer to the widespread and extensive refurbishment and rebuilding of Church of England churches and cathedrals that took place in England and Wales during the 19th-century reign of Queen Victoria...
. Restoration included the extension of the south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
and the altering of the roof line to incorporate it. The Norman doorway, a part of the original church in the twelfth century, was moved from the nave to the south porch where it still spans the entrance today.
Apart from the removal of the pinnacles in the 1970 tower renovations, the exterior of the church remains unchanged. Gas lighting
Gas lighting
Gas lighting is production of artificial light from combustion of a gaseous fuel, including hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, propane, butane, acetylene, ethylene, or natural gas. Before electricity became sufficiently widespread and economical to allow for general public use, gas was the most...
was installed in September 1867; sixty years later it was replaced by electricity. A new hot water radiator system provided heating in 1919; radiant gas heaters replaced it in 1982. The organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
was completely rebuilt in 1956, with further extensive work in 1982 and 1994. The tower bells were augmented to eight in 1927 and to ten in 1969.
The Meeting Room was constructed at the back of the church in 1979: we were one of the first churches in the Oxford Diocese
Diocese of Oxford
-History:The Diocese of Oxford was created in 1541 out of part of the Diocese of Lincoln.In 1836 the Archdeaconry of Berkshire was transferred from the Diocese of Salisbury to Oxford...
to utilise some of our space in this way. Changes in the style of worship
Worship
Worship is an act of religious devotion usually directed towards a deity. The word is derived from the Old English worthscipe, meaning worthiness or worth-ship — to give, at its simplest, worth to something, for example, Christian worship.Evelyn Underhill defines worship thus: "The absolute...
in the 1970s led to the use of a temporary nave altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
, and this was established on a permanent basis with the construction of a dais
Dais
Dais is any raised platform located either in or outside of a room or enclosure, often for dignified occupancy, as at the front of a lecture hall or sanctuary....
and new altar rails in 1989. New exterior doors were added to the porch at the same time.
Floodlights
High-intensity discharge lamp
High-intensity discharge lamps are a type of electrical lamp which produces light by means of an electric arc between tungsten electrodes housed inside a translucent or transparent fused quartz or fused alumina arc tube. This tube is filled with both gas and metal salts. The gas facilitates the...
were installed in 2000 and the heating system replaced in November 2001. Further improvements to access for the disabled and reordering the Chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
are planned.