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Cheltenham Minster, St Mary's

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In 1890 an entrance porch was built on the south side of the church and in 1911 the peal of bells was increased to twelve. Various minor changes were made to the layout of the church in the 20th century, notably a prayer chapel in the south transept. A further reordering took place in 2012 when the
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peal was probably installed around 1680, and contained six bells. The peal was augmented to eight in 1697 and to ten in 1833. Several record peals were rung on the ten bells, including a record length of 15,227 Grandsire Caters, taking in nine hours and 43 minutes, in 1889. Two new bells were added
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prayer chapel was moved to the north transept, the font was moved to the south entrance from the old north porch, toilets and other facilities were installed in the south transept, and some pews were removed to create space for the new prayer chapel, exhibitions and hospitality.
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St Mary's was condemned as unsafe and closed in July 1859. During the closure the congregation worshipped first in the Town Hall (the predecessor of Cheltenham's current Town Hall) and then in a temporary church built of timber encased with corrugated iron in Clarence Street.
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The temporary building in Clarence Street was eventually replaced by a permanent stone building which was consecrated in 1879 as St Matthew's. The then rector, Charles Bell, applied to make St Matthew's the parish church, but the proposal was rejected by the parishioners.
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A feature of the church is the spire and bell tower. The upper part of the tower dates from 1200 and the broach spire was added early in the fourteenth century. The tracery of most of the windows is varied and dates from around 1250 to 1350.
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In 1863 Edward Walker proposed the enlargement or replacement of St Mary's. Thirty-four plans were submitted, but because of opposition the proposal was abandoned and instead between 1851 and 1877 the church was
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period in the early 19th century and as a result the church is now hidden behind shops and offices. In Victorian times a number of new churches were built to cope with Cheltenham's rapidly expanding population.
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The Minster is the only surviving medieval building in Cheltenham. It has been in continuous use for 850 years, though between 1859 and 1877 it was closed intermittently for repairs.
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and boasts a good example of lierne vaulting. The tracery of the windows is reflects architectural developments between 1250 and 1350. The stained glass of the windows is late
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For most of its history St Mary's Church served a population of less than 1,500 and was a prominent feature of the landscape. But extensive building occurred during the
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and went through a succession of different owners (lay rectors) until 1863 when Edward Walker took possession of the chancel and the title of rector.
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and regarded as of particularly high quality. The woodwork is Victorian or later, and the south porch is a late Victorian addition.
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style of architecture, but thanks to later extensions it is the decorated style which predominates. The former north porch is
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by architects Dangerfield, Humphris, and Christian, and equipped with gas lighting and a new heating system.
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A view including the tower. The surrounding buildings make it awkward to get a fuller picture of the church.
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RIBA British architectural catalogue: Album of views of Gloucestershire churches: Tewkesbury deanery
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The church has a number of interesting memorials, including one to Captain
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raises funds for the upkeep of the church and has an informative website.
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On Sunday 3 February 2013 St Mary's was designated Cheltenham Minster by
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the church and its land (the rectory) were recorded as belonging to
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in 2018 as part of a major restoration project. The original
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church erected on this site in the 8th century. In the
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Church of England church buildings in Gloucestershire
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The church is a Grade I listed building. 1649:Grade I listed churches in Gloucestershire 1509:Hatherley and Reddings Cricket Club Ground 1215:St Philip and St James Church, Leckhampton 1004: 990: 558: 544: 485:"Cheltenham Minster (St Mary's) (1386792)" 59: 1580:Cheltenham Spa St. James railway station 1504:East Gloucestershire Cricket Club Ground 1130:Grade II* listed buildings in Cheltenham 900:Church of St Peter and St Paul, Ormskirk 461:Ringing at Cheltenham Minster, St Mary's 370: 289: 1403:Cheltenham (UK Parliament constituency) 1621: 1454:Cheltenham Association Football League 1125:Grade I listed buildings in Cheltenham 619:Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge 599:St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham 1560:Cheltenham Racecourse railway station 1545:Cheltenham and District Light Railway 985: 945:Priory Church of St Mary, Abergavenny 789:Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick 539: 317:The bell tower currently contains a 1590:Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway 1438:John Taylor, Baron Taylor of Warwick 1413:Cheltenham Borough Council elections 644:Church of St John the Baptist, Frome 444:The Friends of St Mary's, Cheltenham 425:The Friends of St Mary's, Cheltenham 279:it became crown property during the 950:St John the Baptist Church, Cardiff 709:St Marylebone Parish Church, London 704:Christ Church, Spitalfields, London 13: 1585:Gloucester and Cheltenham Tramroad 749:St Mary the Virgin, Saffron Walden 490:National Heritage List for England 298:Parts of the church represent the 283:. 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He moved on to become 356:, who was a follower of 34:51.9015694°N 2.0762889°W 1459:Cheltenham Cricket Club 1307:Gloucestershire College 1291:The Wilson (Cheltenham) 1190:Ellenborough Park Hotel 1160:Cheltenham Masonic Hall 880:Liverpool Parish Church 684:St James' Church, Louth 1634:Churches in Cheltenham 1629:Major Churches Network 1565:Cheltenham Spa Express 659:Great Yarmouth Minster 582:Province of Canterbury 568:Major Churches Network 449:31 August 2019 at the 430:31 August 2019 at the 376: 295: 39:51.9015694; -2.0762889 1644:Diocese of Gloucester 1514:Cheltenham Racecourse 1357:Pate's Grammar School 1317:National Star College 1155:Le Champignon Sauvage 1135:153–159 Fairview Road 374: 293: 261:William the Conqueror 232:and parish church of 1489:Old Patesians R.F.C. 1474:Cheltenham Town F.C. 1433:GCHQ trade union ban 1398:Cheltenham Agreement 1286:The Cheltenham Ghost 1261:Cheltenham Town Hall 1180:Cheltenham Town Hall 1175:Cheltenham Synagogue 860:Kendal Parish Church 784:Waltham Abbey Church 654:Great Malvern Priory 418:Bishop of Gloucester 323:John Taylor & Co 319:peal of twelve bells 1524:The Victoria Ground 1519:Sandford Parks Lido 1484:Cheltenham Gold Cup 1479:Cheltenham Festival 1327:All Saints' Academy 1271:Pittville Pump Room 1220:St Gregory's Church 1205:Pittville Pump Room 1200:Montpellier Rotunda 679:King's Lynn Minster 634:Christchurch Priory 321:which were cast by 304:Early Perpendicular 281:English Reformation 30: /  1367:St Edward's School 1342:Cheltenham College 1240:Trinity Cheltenham 1235:Thirlestaine House 1140:All Saints' Church 925:Sunderland Minster 825:Bridlington Priory 624:Cheltenham Minster 377: 296: 226:Cheltenham Minster 65:Cheltenham Minster 1616: 1615: 1352:Dean Close School 1256:The Bacon Theatre 1145:The Bacon Theatre 979: 978: 933: 932: 905:Rotherham Minster 835:Doncaster Minster 669:St Mary, Hadleigh 575:Church of England 529:, 3 February 2013 423:A group known as 335:Henry Skillicorne 269:Cirencester Abbey 223: 222: 81:Church 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Index

51°54′5.65″N 2°4′34.64″W / 51.9015694°N 2.0762889°W / 51.9015694; -2.0762889

Denomination
Church of England
Churchmanship
Evangelical

Dedication
St. Mary
Province
Canterbury
Diocese
Gloucester
Archdeaconry
Cheltenham
Deanery
Parish
Bishop(s)
Rachel Treweek
Rector
Vicar(s)
minster
Cheltenham
Gloucestershire
Saxon
Domesday Book
William the Conqueror
Regenbald
Cirencester Abbey
Dissolution of the Monasteries

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