Church of St Mary, Bibury

The Anglican Church of St Mary at Bibury in the Cotswold District of Gloucestershire, England, was built in the 11th century. It is a grade I listed building.[1]

Church of St Mary
Church of St Mary is located in Gloucestershire
Church of St Mary
Church of St Mary
51°45′26″N 1°49′48″W / 51.7571°N 1.8301°W / 51.7571; -1.8301
DenominationChurch of England
Architecture
Heritage designationGrade I listed building
Designated26 January 1961
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseGloucester
ParishBibury

History edit

The first church in Bibury was established in 899.[2] The Anglo-Saxon church was built in the middle to late 11th century with further work in subsequent centuries.[1]

The church was the property of Osney Abbey until the dissolution of the monasteries.[3][2]

A Victorian restoration was undertaken in 1863 by George Gilbert Scott with further restoration later in the 19th century.[1] The organ was moved to the south aisle in 1920.[2]

The parish is part of the South Cotswold benefice within the Diocese of Gloucester.[4]

Architecture edit

The limestone building has a stone slate roof. It consists of a nave with north and south aisles and a clerestory, chancel and a south porch. The tower arises from the north west corner, supported by buttresses and contains a 15th-century belfry.[1] A Saxon stone grave slab has been incorporated into the north wall.[5] Four similar Saxon slabs were given to the British Museum.[2]

The north doorway was constructed around 1180.[6]

The interior furnishings include a 13th-century font and memorials from several centuries. Unusually the font is square, with the sides carved with arches.[5] The oldest of the stained glass is from the 13th century with more recent work by Thomas Willement and William Wailes.[1] Glass by Karl Parsons installed in 1927 was used on a 1992 Christmas stamp.[7][8]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e "Church of St. Mary". National Heritage List for England. Historic England. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bibury Pages 21-44 A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 7". Victoria County History. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  3. ^ "Church". Bibury Village. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  4. ^ "St Mary's Bibury". A Church Near You. Church of England. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  5. ^ a b "St Mary's Church, Bibury, Gloucestershire". English Churches. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  6. ^ "Bibury, St Mary's Saxon Church". Britain Express. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  7. ^ "St Mary's Church, Bibury". Bibury. Retrieved 28 October 2019.
  8. ^ "Bibury - St Mary's Church". Cotswolds. Retrieved 28 October 2019.