Church of St Mary and St Thomas, Knebworth

The Church of St Mary and St Thomas is one of two Anglican churches in Knebworth, Hertfordshire, England.[1] The church dates from the twelfth century and is a grade I listed building.

Church of St Mary and St Thomas, Knebworth
The northern side of the church looking towards the tower
LocationKnebworth Park, Knebworth, Hertfordshire, SG3 6PY
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Functional statusParish church
Heritage designationGrade I listed
Designated27 May 1968
Specifications
Bells8
Administration
ProvinceCanterbury
DioceseSt Albans
ArchdeaconryHertford
DeaneryStevenage
ParishKnebworth
Clergy
RectorThe Revd Jim Pye

History

Site

The church is set in a churchyard which in turn is surrounded by parkland. Like a number of Norman churches in the area (for example, St Nicholas' Church, Stevenage; All Saints, Datchworth), the site is on a hill. Archaeological investigations have identified traces of an early settlement between the church and Knebworth House. It is believed that the settlement was abandoned when the park was created in c. 1300.[2]

In 1914 work started on a new church, St Martin's, to serve the main population centre of Knebworth, but St Mary and St Thomas has remained in use.

Architecture

The architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner described the exterior of the church as "architecturally insignificant".[2][3] The most prominent feature is the tower, surmounted by a short spire typical of the region called a "Hertfordshire spike".(see note1)

Features of interest inside the church include a Norman chancel arch.

Memorials

The church houses memorials to the Lytton family.[1] Until the construction of the Lytton Mausoleum in Knebworth Park, the Lytton family used the Lytton Chapel for interments. The chapel is attached to the north side of the church and was rebuilt around 1710 to house three exceptionally fine monuments dedicated to members of the family.[4]

The churchyard has several war graves and a listed tomb by Edwin Lutyens.[5]

Conservation

On 27 May 1968, the church was designated a grade I listed building.[6] It is included in the Old Knebworth Conservation Area.

Present day

The church still uses the Book of Common Prayer for its services.[7] The church is part of the parish of Knebworth in the Archdeaconry of Hertford of the Diocese of St Albans.[7]

See also

Notes
1.^ Flèche or short spire rising from a church-tower, its base concealed by a parapet, common in Herts., England. Pevsner, N., Cherry. BoE, Hertfordshire. (1977)

References
  1. "Church of St Mary and St Thomas". Historic England.
  2. "Old Knebworth: Conservation Area" (PDF).
  3. Pevsner. Buildings of England, Hertfordshire.
  4. "Lytton Mausoleum". Mausolea and Monuments Trust.
  5. "1 of 6 Tombs". Historic England.
  6. Historic England. "Church of St Mary and St Thomas (1295771)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  7. "St Mary & St Thomas of Canterbury, Knebworth". A Church Near You. Archbishops' Council. Retrieved 1 July 2017.

Sources

Media related to Saints Mary and Thomas Church, Knebworth at Wikimedia Commons

51°52′27″N 0°12′48″W

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