St Mary the Virgin, Silchester is primarily a place of worship and prayer, one which still serves as the focal point for Christian fellowship and ministry for many who live nearby.
Our Guide serves to i
ntroduce the visitor to a building that has many points of interest, many historical and some quite new. Since the original book written by George Boon, there has been important restoration work; the addition of works of art, and alterations both major and small. The guide is availabe in the church plus selected outlets.
HIGHLIGHTS
12th Century: St. Mary’s was built on the site of three Roman temples as a small church with an apse, which may be similar to St. John the Baptist's church in Padworth. At this time the North aisle was added, along with the main doorway.
13th Century: The nave was extended, featuring lancet windows typical of the period. The later 14th century window was built slightly offset looking at the exposed reveals.
17th Century: The Reformation influenced church architecture, marking significant changes in design and structure. At Silchester box pews were introduced around the 1670-80s together with a musician’s gallery and 3 rooms over the south aisle. Worship space was provided for Mortimer West End parishioners before St. Saviours was built in 1854. Due to the low roofline, it was in a sunken floor and known as “Mortimers hole”. Noted was the stove in the centre with the chimney poking out of the South window.
Victorian Era: In 1865, Rector Fiennes was appointed to a dark gloomy church and immediately removed the overbearing gallery and attic rooms. The roofline was unchanged until 1878 , with the stove chimney still protruding. The chancel was whitewashed with a false ceiling and the ‘Lords table’ surrounded by a picket fence on a brick floor. The church underwent a major transformation, with the chancel refurbished in 1872, and by 1878 the nave also renovated. A new layout was introduced and the building reroofed. The pews had to be replaced due to wet rot, as it snowed during the works. Highlighted was the Pulpit move from the right-hand side to the left, and the font moved to the door.
Post-1878: Notable upgrades included the installation of an organ in 1895 (replacing the Harmonica), leading to further changes in the church's design and use. In 1998 works included restoring the east window and conserving wall paintings. When the 1878 cement render was removed to aid damp protection, the putlogs (a type of medieval scaffold) used in the construction of the east window were uncovered. In 2007 the south porch was replaced with a moder extension, containing vestry, kitchen, loo and meeting room.
Enjoy this building for its beauty and history. Value our heritage of Christian worship from Roman times to the present day.
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