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The 'Collegiate Church of St Mary' is the parish church of the town of Warwick, England. It lies in the centre of the town just east of the market place. It is a member of the Greater Churches Group.

Contents

History

Bishop of Warwick

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External links

History

The church's foundation dates back nearly nine hundred years, being created by Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick in 1123. In addition to founding the church, de Beaumont established the College of Dean and Canons at the church. The only surviving part of the Norman church which de Beaumont had built is the crypt.
The chancel vestries and chapter house of the church were extensively rebuilt in the 14th century by a later Earl of Warwick, Thomas de Beauchamp (later pronounced Beecham) in the Perpendicular Gothic style. His descendants built what is officially called the Chapel of Our Lady, but commonly known as the Beauchamp Chapel. It contains the effigial monuments of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick, Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick and Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester.
The church, along with much of Warwick, was devastated by the Great Fire of Warwick in 1694. The nave and tower of the building were completely destroyed. The rebuilt church was completed in 1704 to an unusually pure Gothic design by William Wilson (appointed by the Crown Commissioners), the only compromise with classical styles being the balustrades along the top of the building.

Bishop of Warwick

The church has the status of collegiate church. There is a 'Bishop of Warwick', but it is not correct to describe him as having his seat at St Mary's as the church is not a cathedral. The Bishop of Warwick is instead a suffragan bishop operating under the authority of the Bishop of Coventry.

Gallery

External links

★ Church website