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St Mary's Church, Southampton

St. Mary's Church, Southampton
Church of St. Mary with Holy Trinity
St Mary Southampton.jpg
St. Mary's Church
St. Mary's Church, Southampton is located in Southampton
St. Mary's Church, Southampton
St. Mary's Church, Southampton
Shown within Southampton
50°54′10″N 1°23′42″W / 50.90287°N 1.39506°W / 50.90287; -1.39506Coordinates: 50°54′10″N 1°23′42″W / 50.90287°N 1.39506°W / 50.90287; -1.39506
Location Southampton, Hampshire
Country England
Denomination Anglican
Website Parish of Southampton (City Centre)
History
Dedication St. Mary
Consecrated June 1956
Architecture
Status Parish church
Functional status Active
Heritage designation Listed building – Grade II
Architect(s) G. E. Street
Architectural type Church
Style Early English
Groundbreaking 1878
Completed 1884, rebuilt in 1954–56
Specifications
Spire height 200ft
Materials Exterior: Purbeck stone
Interior: Bath stone
Administration
Parish Southampton (City Centre)
Deanery Southampton
Archdeaconry Bournemouth
Diocese Winchester
Province Canterbury
Clergy
Bishop(s) Bishop of Southampton
Rector Revd Dr Julian Davies
Vicar(s) Revd Tim Daykin
Curate(s) Revd Phil Hand
Chaplain(s) Vacant

St. Mary's Church, Southampton, is the largest church in the city of Southampton, England, and can trace its origins to the first Saxon settlements of the 7th century. In 1917, the sound of the church bells inspired the writing of the song, "The Bells of St. Mary's", later sung by Bing Crosby in the film of the same name.

The church stands at the southern end of St. Mary Street, on the east side at the corner of Chapel Road, with the buildings of Southampton City College to the north and east, in a quiet oasis of green surrounded by large trees which from a distance hide all but the spire.

The present church is the sixth on the site of the Saxon town of Hamwic (Hamtun).

The first church at Hamwic is thought to have been built around AD 634 when Saint Birinus arrived at the port on his mission to re-convert England to its former Christian faith. About this time, the first small church of St. Mary was built on the present site. During the Viking raids of 994, Olaf I of Norway is believed to have worshipped at the church while camped at Woolston prior to his return to Norway.

The first recorded priest and holder of the benefice was named as Richerius (1086). In the Domesday Book, it is stated that the church is "held by Richerius thd(sic) Clerk, with two other churches near Southampton, dependent on it as the mother-church, and Richerius owns in right of his benefice all the tithes of the town of Southampton and also of Kingsland".

The Saxon town survived many invasions and ravages by the Danes but eventually fell into decline and in the time of King Canute in the 11th century the population moved to the safety of the Norman medieval settlement to the west, with St. Michael's Church being first built in 1070. However, St. Mary's continued to be of significant importance as the Mother Church, with its claims to tithes, burial rights and privileges reflecting its status. A document of 1281 appears to confirm the status of St. Mary's as a collegiate church and as the principal church of Southampton.


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