| St Mary the Virgin (known as St Mary's) | |
|---|---|
St Mary the Virgin, Lytchett Matravers |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Medieval |
| Town or city | Lytchett Matravers |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | |
| Construction started | circa. 1200 |
| Technical details | |
| Size | small |
| Design and construction | |
| Client | Sir Walter Maltravers |
St Mary the Virgin, usually called St Mary's, is a church situated on the edge of Lytchett Matravers village in Dorset, England, and is part of Salisbury Diocese.
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There are no known records giving the date of the foundation of the church at Lytchett Matravers. At Domesday, the manor of Lytchett Matravers was held by Sir John Maltravers.[1] Sir John Matravers who was buried in the church, was Edward II's gaoler and possibly murderer.[2]
A Sir Walter Maltravers went on a crusade to the Holy Land and it is possible that he ordered the church to be built beside the manor house in his absence about the year 1200. The west tower, the nave and the chancel were built at this time, followed by the North aisle in the 14th century.
It is possible that the Black Death, which ravaged Dorset in the second half of the 14th century, left few people. The villagers forsook their cottages near the church and moved to the higher ground leaving the church to fall into decay. Sir John Maltravers’ heir, his granddaughter Alianor carried the manor and title to her husband’s family, the Fitzalans, Earls of Arundel, who later became the Dukes of Norfolk and are still Barons Maltravers. A great deal of restoration was carried out at the beginning of the sixteenth century by Dame Margarita Clements. Including the addition of the North Aisle.
The tower is the oldest part of the building – the arch dates from 1200 whilst the pinnacles, which are carved within the Maltravers fret, are circa 1500. There are six bells, some very old, their dates being displayed in the Tower. The arches on the north side of the nave date from about 1350, when the north aisle was added.
There is also an unusually large Hagioscope or squint giving a view to the chancel and communion table from the north side of the church, although the age and origin of this feature is unknown.
In 1891, the barrel organ was replaced by a pipe organ with two manuals and pedals. Over the next hundred years, it was rebuilt several times and improved. However it filled what is now the Porticorum, then the vestry. This was replaced in 1992 by a Wyvern electronic organ.[3]
In 1931 the Bells were removed, refurbished and rededicated.
The North transept was extended in 1993 to give added facilities including a new vestry and small upper room which is used for Sunday school and some meetings.[4]
Being on the edge of a growing conurbation like Poole has led to a number of changes over the church's position in the diocesan structures.
Originally in Poole deanery Lytchett Matravers has since the mid-90's been part of Blanford Deanery. On 1 January 2010 it was officially rejoined with Poole. In October 2010 Church joined with the 'Lytchett Minster & Upton Team Ministry' to form 'The Lytchetts & Upton Benefice' Largely a resource sharing benefice, St Mary's retains its own Vicar but as part of a wider team of clergy.