Church of St. Mary , Woodford, Northamptonshire.

The Parish Church of St. Mary is situated at the southern end of the village and can be reached easily from the village green by taking the first left hand turn along Addington Road. In the past the Church has been described as “The Cathedral of the Nene” in reference to the commanding site it holds when viewed from the river, over which it soars. It is likely that the present Church is on the site of a Saxon Church, a church being in existence in 1086 at the time of the Domesday Survey. The main body of the church was created by English builders in the 12th Century in a Norman style, leaving the wall of the old chancel and setting up the south arcade with Norman arches, three big rounded ones and two smaller one in the 13th century the North aisle was added, a new chancel with priests door and the south porch with a room above and an adjacent chapel. During the 14th century the north porch was added and in the 15th century the south aisle with three arches running across it from the older arcade. The Tower is 12th century, with 13th century lancets, a parapet and a small parapet from within which the octagonal spire (14th century). On each corner of the tower is a pinnacle. Within the tower, eight bells are presently hung. The second and tenor are dated 1616. The fourth was cast by Thomas Norris of Stamford in 1662. The fifth was cast by Taylor's of Oxford in 1839 and the treble and third were cast by Taylor's of Loughborough in 1913. The Treble was a new bell being added to the former ring of five in 1913. During re-hanging in 1913, new cast iron frames were also installed. The old wooden frames having been in position since 1886, when dismantled were used to make pieces of furniture. During September 2000 two further treble bells were added to the bell frame completing a job started some 87 years before.

Woodford Northamptonshire

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