Church Micro 15313...Badby - Church of St Mary the Virgin
There are records suggesting a building on or near this knoll in the 9th Century with rare endowments for a the church from around 1190.
In 1880, a religious relic comprising a lead seal of Pope Alexander III (1159-1181), barbed arrow head and horse bones were found nearby. They are believed to have been buried to escape destruction during the reign of Edward VI (1547-1553).
Structure
Internal works (details of which can be found in the church) evidence was found of an earlier building which was used in the footings for the present structure. The current structure dates from the 14th Century with the clerestory added in the 15th Century, the South Porch in the 16th Century (directly over skeletons!) but at the Reformation the North Aisle Chapel and Rood Screen were dismantled. Major works done in the 17th Century and the tower was rebuilt in the early 18th Century before a West Gallery was installed.
A North Vestry was built in the 19th Century before further works in the 20th Century added a toilet and kitchen.
In 2018 significant repair work inside the church saw the floor altered and some minor layout changes.
Inside
There are no large memorials as no major families have lived in the parish but there are a number of fine stain-glass windows (much of which is 19th & 20th Century) including the village's War Memorial at the West end of the South side of the church. The North Aisle Eastern Window is linked to Abbot Thomas Newbold of Evesham 1491-1514).
Tower
The tower was recorded as 'cracked and crazy' in 1631 and fell down in 1705. It was rebuilt and houses bells that were installed before (but then survived) the 1705 collapse.
Churchyard
The churchyard was closed to burials in 1886 but had been in use as a burial site for over five centuries (the height compared to the pavements hinting at its re-use).
An excellent, more detailed history of the church and much of the most interesting aspects can be found at: Badby Parish Church – St.Mary the Virgin – Badby Parish Council
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