I’d forgotten just how stunning St Mary’s was until I went to set the cache and take some pictures. I was fortunate enough to be best man here to a good friend and we regularly walk past as we head into the Chiltern’s for a walk. The evening I set the cache the local drumming group were practising on the grass outside to add an atmospheric element to our visit.
This should be a quick find, there’s a fishing pond adjacent and a large park with a children’s playground 2 minutes walk along Heron’s Way. The Church is in regular use by the community, Sunday afternoons it's often open for tea and cake.
St Mary’s has been at the centre of the Wendover community for over 700 years and is steeped in history. In mediaeval times the rood cross was venerated as a place of pilgrimage. During the Civil War, Cromwell’s troops camped in the church (you can still see the graffiti!) and in 1799 the first penny savings bank in the country was started in the church vestry. Features to look out for aside for the Church are the lychgate and the font in the grounds.
Although it is certain that a church has existed on the site since the 12th Century, the present building dates mainly from the early and later parts of the 14th Century. In the first half of the 14th century the older arcades and the aisles were rebuilt and also the arches of the two western bays, the columns and responds of which were retained, the nave thus preserving its old width and probably its old length. At the same time the chancel was again widened, but only towards the north, and the chancel arch and its responds were rebuilt, though probably the old width of the opening was retained. A north vestry was also added. The tower may possibly have been begun when the old aisles were lengthened, but if this was the case the tower arch was rebuilt with the aisles, and the tower itself may have been added to at the same time, but modern restorations have destroyed nearly all traces of the early history of this part of the church. A clearstory was probably added in the 15th century, but the present clearstory in 14thcentury style is a part of the restorations and additions of G. E. Street in 1869, when the chancel arcades, the north organ chamber, south chapel and both porches were carried out. A considerable amount of work was also done in every part of the church, and not a single window remains in its original state.
The building was then restored in 1838-39, 1868-69 and in 1914. The fittings are mainly Victorian with some excellent examples of stained glass. More recent improvements include new glass entrance doors which are an unusual feature locally.
A more detailed history of the Church and Wendover can be found via the related web page.
Due to proximity issues in the area I'll be sending you to the two waypointed graves to gather information to calculate the final cache location which is a short walk away.
Whenever I visit a graveyard I seek out the young people that gave their lives in the World Wars, they are easy to spot given the tremendous work done by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in maintaining them. There is one from each of the World Wars.
The cache is at N51 AB.C0E – W000 AA.DFG
Where:
Seaman Howlett was killed in 19AA
B = The day in April that 2nd Air Mech Marsden died
Seaman Howlett's Service Number is CFGF26
Air Mech Marsden was aged DE when he died
Limited parking is available opposite the Lychgate or to the rear of the Church. The final is a short walk away, please be careful with children as depending on time of year it might require a very brief walk in the road although the majority can be done on the grass verge.
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For full information on how you can expand the Church Micro series by sadexploration please read the Place your own Church Micro page before you contact him at churchmicro.co.uk
See also the Church Micro Statistics and Home pages for further information about the series.
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