It is set in a peaceful churchyard overlooking the market place in the centre of the town. The building itself is of great architectural interest and is built on the site of an old Saxon church. The church tower which stands high above the town was constructed in stages between the 12th and 14th century whilst the porch was built in 1320. The medieval church consisted only of a chancel, nave, north aisle and tower but it was considerably enlarged in the Victorian period. The top stage of the tower is 14th-century, as is the south porch.[1]
The rest of the building is the result of extensive restoration work which began in 1872. The south aisle was added by Evans and Jolly between 1872 and 1874, and the transepts by Robert Charles Clarke in 1887 and 1888. In 1888 the Lady Chapel was re-built, a beautiful example of 19th-century craftsmanship. The Victorian baptistery which used to contain the 14th-century font has now been converted into a visitor centre where display boards and wall panels provide information about the church. There are also many carvings and wall mosaics around the church.
In 2004, there was a carved stone cross, a Khatchkar, given to the church in memory of the work that the rector had done for Armenia.[2] The stone which had been at Holgate School was given in thanks for the British people's contributions which enable the rebuilding of Lord Byron School in Gyumri which had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1988. It was thought that the original stone may have been damaged by football fans who confused Armenia with Albania.[3]
St Mary Magdalene served as the traditional burial place of the Byron family who maintained a family vault there. Most Lords Byron are buried in it, including the poet. His daughter Ada, Countess of Lovelace, also rests in the vault. There is a modest memorial to Lord Byron in the church.[4]
Others
Other notable people buried in and near the church include:
There are 25 stained glass windows by Charles Eamer Kempe, most of which were added during the 1880s.[5] The church holds one of the largest collections of stained glass by this artist.[6]
Painting
There is a picture of Christ and the woman taken in adultery by Daniel Maclise dating from 1869.
Bells
St Mary Magdalene has a ring of eight bells (12 cwt) installed in 1958 and a 14th-century Angelus bell, given to the church by the poet Lord Byron. The Angelus bell has an unknown weight because it is so old the ringers are afraid of it breaking if it were moved from the tower.
Bell weight tuning
Treble 4-0-22 F#
2nd 4-1-14 E#
3rd 4-3-16 D#
4th 5-2-0 C#
5th 6-2-8 B
6th 7-1-6 A#
7th 9-1-12 G#
Tenor 12-2-16 F# To the Glory of God
Angelus Bell C#
Clock
A clock was installed in 1685 by Richard Roe.[7] The current mechanically driven clock with a face on all four sides of the tower dates from 1882, and has to be wound once a week. The clock has three weights, one for keeping time, one for the chimes and one for the clock faces. The chimes chime the 5th, 6th and 7th bells.
Organ
The church had a pipe organ by Nigel Church installed in 1976. This was later sold to Sedbergh School for their chapel and an electronic organ was installed in 1992.
Norman Silcock 1957-c.1970 A blind organist, his guide dog used to sit behind the console at services. The first piece he played on arrival was also the last piece he played at his retirement - Finlandia (Sibelius). His retirement gift was a Braille music typewriter.
