St Mary Magdalene's Church, Launceston

Church in Launceston, England

St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Launceston
St Mary Magdalene’s Church, Launceston

50°38′17.04″N 4°21′35.76″W / 50.6380667°N 4.3599333°W / 50.6380667; -4.3599333
Location	Launceston
Country	England
Denomination	Church of England
Churchmanship	Broad church
History
Dedication	St Mary Magdalene
Architecture
Groundbreaking	1511
Completed	1524
Administration
Province	Province of Canterbury
Diocese	Diocese of Truro
Archdeaconry	Bodmin
Deanery	Trigg Major
Parish	Launceston
Clergy
Priest in charge	Rev'd Fr Michael W. Dobson
Historic site
Location of St Mary Magdalene's Church, Launceston in Cornwall

Listed Building – Grade I
Official name	Church of St Mary Magdalene
Designated	27 February 1950
Reference no.	1280301

St Mary Magdalene's Church, Launceston is a Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Launceston, Cornwall. It is unusual for its carvings; the entire exterior of the original part of the church is built of carved granite blocks. The church is dedicated to Jesus' companion, Mary Magdalene.

History

The origins of the church date from the 12th century, but all except for the tower has been replaced. The church was under the management of Launceston Priory.

The current building, except for the tower, dates from 1511 to 1524 and was built by Sir Henry Trecarrel of Trecarrel as a memorial to his infant son.

After the dissolution of Launceston Priory in 1539 the management transferred to the Corporation who took on the responsibility of appointing curates and repairs to the building. Around 1550, the lead work needed repair, and the Corporation employed a plumber to recast and relay it. In 1640 the Mayor paid for new glass for the church windows.

In 1718 a west end gallery was built to increase the accommodation available at services. Iron railings were purchased in 1809 from the Tavistock Foundry, at a cost of £222 8s. 3d. (equivalent to £20,400 in 2023). Following an appeal for scrap metal, the iron railings were removed at the start of the Second World War.

In 1852 the pillars of the church were straightened and the roof was replaced. The plans for the work were prepared by D. Barton Esq, and the contact undertaken by Messrs Gill and Ede, builders of Launceston. The organ was dismantled and cleaned by two local townsmen, Messrs Geake and Lane. The church re-opened for worship on 28 December 1852 in the presence of the Mayor, Justices and other members of the corporation.

It was restored in 1894 at a cost of £3,000 (equivalent to £431,500 in 2023) under the plans of John Dando Sedding, but he died before the work could be carried out, and it was managed by Edmund Harold Sedding and Henry Wilson. A side chapel was added to the south aisle of the church. New seating was provided in the north and south aisles, and oak benches provided for the centre aisles. New choirs stalls were also provided, wood carving was done by Charles Trask and Sons, Stoke-under-Ham, Illminster. Stonework was done by William Burt of Newport, Launceston.

The organ was moved to its present location in 1904. The gallery was taken down in 1910. A new chancel screen 15 feet (4.6 m) high and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide by Rashleigh Pinwill of Plymouth was dedicated in 1911 to mark the 400th anniversary of the church. It cost £600.

Vicars

1622 John Sainthill
1630 Jasper Hicks
1633 Edward Cubbins
1637 William Crompton
1648 Joseph Hull
1656 William Oliva
1663 John Ruddle
1699 Nathaniel Boughton
1715 William Bedford
1737 Charles Bedford
1763 John Bedford
1787 William Carpenter
1808 John Rowe
1837 George Buckmaster Gibbons
1866 Wickham Montgomery
1880 Samuel William Elderfield Bird
1883 John Benson Sidgwick
1890 Thomas Jackson Nunns
1907 Frank Ernest Lewis
1919 Norman Archibald Rivers-Tippett
1936 William Harrison Rigg
1945 W. George Steer

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (September 2019)

Organ

The church has had organs since before the English Civil War. An organ was installed in 1723, probably by Thomas Swarbrick. The donor was either Sir William Morice, 3rd Baronet (1707–1750) or his successor Humphry Morice MP (1723–1785). This has had numerous modifications over the years. A specification of the organ can be found on the National Pipe Organ Register.

Organists

Robert Martin ca.1760 - 1800
Philip Martin 1800 - 1830
Thomas Peter Hamlin 1830 - 1871
Thomas Dalby 1871 - 1898 (Formerly organist at St Wystan's Church, Repton and New Romney, Kent)
William Clotworthy ???? - 1907 (afterwards organist of St Eustachius' Church, Tavistock)
David John Coldwell FRCO 1907 - 1943
Royland Jordan 1945 -

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (September 2019)

Bells

The tower contains a peal of 8 bells cast by John Taylor & Company of Loughborough in 1938.

References

Historic England. "Church of St Mary Magdalene, Church Street (Grade I) (1280301)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
"Thomas Prockter Ching". Launceston Then. Retrieved 18 August 2022.
"Re-opening of Launceston Church". Royal Cornwall Gazette. England. 7 January 1853. Retrieved 27 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
"Re-opening of St Mary Magdalene, Launceston". Royal Cornwall Gazette. Falmouth. 26 July 1894. Retrieved 27 September 2015 – via British Newspaper Archive.
"Launceston – The Remarkable Pinwill Sisters". Retrieved 13 August 2022.
"After 400 years. Launceston Parish Church Centenary". Cornish and Devon post. England. 29 July 1911. Retrieved 28 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
"The Acorn Archive - Sir William Morice, Knight; and his descendents". Freepages.family.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
"NPOR [N12293]". National Pipe Organ Register. British Institute of Organ Studies. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
"Mr. T.P. Hamlin". Royal Cornwall Gazette. England. 9 October 1830. Retrieved 27 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
"Mr. Dalby". Royal Cornwall Gazette. England. 24 November 1898. Retrieved 27 September 2019 – via British Newspaper Archive.
"Launceston S Mary Magd". Dove's Guide for Church Bell Ringers. Dovemaster. 23 July 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2019.

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