Newark is proud and privileged
to possess as its Parish Church, the magnificent medieval building dedicated to
St Mary Magdalene. Its spire which soars to over 230 feet is a landmark for
miles in the Trent valley. The church is almost cathedralesque in its scale and
is one of few parish churches to have an ambulatory and chapels east of the High
Altar. It also has a heritage of music of cathedral standard, thanks to the
bequest of Thomas Magnus in the 1520s: there is still an active Song School and
a male choir which sings choral evensong on Sunday and Wednesday For St
Mary's as the town centre church is a continuing house of prayer open daily. It
is now the head of a Team of three churches (the others are St Leonard's and Christ Church )
The present church is
the third on the site. Of the saxon church nothing remains. It stood on land
owned by the Earl of Mercia who gave the land to the monks at Stow near Lincoln
Robert de Chesney, Bishop of Lincoln built a church in the late 12th
century. Of this only the large piers at the crossing and the vestry remain
It was in 1230 that work began on the present church, beginning with the
tower which still stands. Then in 1310 there was an ambitious scheme to rebuild
thus church and the result is today's church. The south aisle and the spire were
complete before the Black Death (1349) and are examples of Decorated Gothic. The
rest of the church is in the Perpendicular style, being completed in the latter
part of the 15th century. It was during this time that the chapels were built by
the town guilds. Fortunately nothing remains of galleries erected during the
18th century but removed after the Anglo-Catholic revival in the 1840s.
There were two major restorations in the third quarter of the 20th century,
with the erecting of a platform in front of the choir screen for a Nave Altar
and restoration of paintings of the nave roof. A window of medieval stained
glass (which had become jumbled like a jigsaw) in the Holy Spirit Chapel was
restored.
GUIDED
TOUR
The
Nave
The nave
The font
The best view of the church
interior is from the west end of the Nave. Note the row of slender Perpendicular
piers. The side aisles are a century apart: the south aisle windows have
Victorian stained glass: the north aisle windows are largely clear, which
together with the clerestorey make for a light interior. The great west
window commemorates the 19th century vicar, Rev J G Bussell, who was responsible
for the restoration of the 1840s. There are porches on both sides. That on the
south side is the main entrance, and has a medieval library. Above the north
porch is a magnificent painting by William Hilton R.A. of 'The Raising of
Lazarus'. At the west end of the south aisle is the Font, dating from 1660.
Sixteen figures on the plinth were restored in 1660 after damage by the
Cavaliers.
The
Transepts
Both transepts are illumined by
huge Perpendicular windows. Notice the modern sculpture (Pieta) above the Book
of remembrance in the South Transept by local sculptor Robert Kiddey
The
Chancel
The chancel
The chancel is bounded by a
parclose screen on south and north and on the west by a Rood Screen, dating from
1508. The large cross above the Rood Screen was given in 1896 by Becher Tidd
Pratt (seven time Mayor of Newark) in memory of his parents. The Choir
Stalls dating from 1521 were a gift of Rev John Smith (vicar). The back row
are misericords, with typical carvings on the ledges The magnificent
reredos is by Sir Ninian Comper. The centre panel depicts the Risen
Christ- other panels depict the Last Supper, the Entombment and Raising of
Lazarus and also sixteen saints. The Chantry Chapels are on either
side of the High Altar. That on the north was provided by the will of Thomas
Meering; on the South Side by Robert Markham. This is built on his tomb: on the
south side is the famous 16th century painted panel 'The Dance of
Death'.
St George's Chapel in
the NE corner is a military remembrance chapel with a reredos 'To our Glorious
Dead' The Lady Chapel. On either side of the altar are statues
depicting the Annunciation. Above the altar is the great East Window
which dominates the interior. It was given by public subscription in 1864 to
commemorate Prince Albert. The colours are glowing and the scenes depict the
Crucifixion and Christ in Glory The Holy Spirit Chapel. Note the
medieval glass, arranged at random in 1790 and restored to order in 1957. Some
of the glass dates back to 1300
