Appearances can be deceptive as, although rather unprepossessing on the outside, when you enter St Mary's church you’ll be greeted with the glorious colours of the ceilings, panelling and stained glass windows.
Plumtree, Nottinghamshire
These were the result of a major redesign carried out in the 1870s by some of the most eminent Victorian craftsmen.
A church in Plumtree is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086), but St Mary's church today is very different from that of the Saxons and Normans.
In the 1870s a major redesign and redecoration was carried out by George Frederick Bodley, one of the major Victorian architects, and his partner Thomas Garner. The north aisle, which originally dated from the 13th century, was rebuilt in 1873 and much enlarged, partly using stone taken from the old Trent Bridge in Nottingham. The project also involved raising the chancel arch and walls, putting in a new east window, moving the old chancel window to the east end of the north aisle, installing new pews in the nave, reflooring the whole church, adding a new font, and fitting stalls for the clergy and choir in the chancel. The decorated screen, wrought iron candelabra, chancel windows, pulpit, organ and clock followed.
The new chancel window, and most of the other windows, were made by Burlison & Grylls. The wonderful organ case was designed by Canon Frederick Sutton from Brant Broughton in Lincolnshire; Canon Sutton designed many other organ cases and worked in partnership with GF Bodley on St Helen's church in Brant Broughton. The organ itself was made by the firm of Wordsworth & Maskell, of Leeds.
The Rector at the time, Revd William Burnside, and his family paid for much of the work. The ceilings and screen were extensively renovated in the 1980s using colours matched to those used in the 1870s (which were revealed when decorative fittings were removed).
Today, St Mary’s church once again shows the glorious colours conceived by Bodley and Garner.
Tollerton, Nottinghamshire
St Peter's, tucked away off the road, is a mix of architectural styles having been remodelled twice by former owners of the adjacent hall, and contains eight hatchments (funeral coats of arms) dating from 1770 to 1875.
Bunny, Nottinghamshire
Often referred to as the Cathedral of the Wolds as it is the largest church building in south Nottinghamshire at over 140 foot long including the tower.
Owthorpe, Nottinghamshire
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