St Mary's Church, Fordham

Coordinates: 52°34′14″N 0°23′02″E / 52.5706°N 0.3838°E / 52.5706; 0.3838
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St Mary's Church, Fordham
St Mary's Church, Fordham, from the south
St Mary's Church, Fordham is located in Norfolk
St Mary's Church, Fordham
St Mary's Church, Fordham
Location in Norfolk
52°34′14″N 0°23′02″E / 52.5706°N 0.3838°E / 52.5706; 0.3838
OS grid referenceTL 617 996
LocationFordham, Norfolk
CountryEngland
DenominationAnglican
Architecture
Functional statusRedundant
Heritage designationGrade II*
Designated9 July 1951
Architectural typeChurch
StyleGothic
Specifications
MaterialsCarstone, slated and tiled roofs

St Mary's Church is located to the south of the village of Fordham, Norfolk, England. It is a redundant Anglican parish church in the care of the Friends of Friendless Churches.[1] The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.[2]

History[edit]

The church dates from the 13th century, with alterations made in the middle of the 14th century, and in 1730.[2] In 1730, or about that time, the tower was demolished,[2] as was the south aisle.[1] It was declared redundant on 1 June 1991,[3] and was vested in the Friends of Friendless Churches in September 2011.[1]

Architecture[edit]

St Mary's in constructed in carstone,[2] which is a type of stone found locally.[4] It has a simple plan, consisting of a nave and a chancel. The nave has a slate roof, and the chancel is roofed with tiles. On the west gable is a bell-cot. The former three-bay south arcade has been blocked in and two two-light windows with Perpendicular tracery have been inserted. The south wall of the chancel and the north wall of the nave each contain a similar widows. Also in the north wall of the nave is a three-light window, and in the chancel is a two-light window with Y-tracery, There is no east window.[2] There are few remaining contents inside the church. The items still present include a floriated coffin lid, and the remains of a damaged medieval pew. There are also a candelabra and a pew designed by Randell Feilden, the brother of the conservation architect Sir Bernard Feilden.[1]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Newsletter, Friends of Friendless Churches, Autumn 2011, pp. 4–6
  2. ^ a b c d e Historic England, "Church of St Mary, Fordham (1205531)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 5 December 2011
  3. ^ Diocese of Ely: All Schemes (PDF), Church Commissioners/Statistics, Church of England, 2011, p. 2, retrieved 5 December 2011
  4. ^ Carstone Formation, British Geographical Survey, retrieved 5 December 2011