The History of St Mary’s
St Mary’s owes its splendour to the patronage of the earls of Warwick for over 300 years, especially Thomas Beauchamp, the 11th earl (died 1369), his son, also Thomas (died 1401), and Richard, the 13th earl (died 1439). Warwick was one of the most powerful earldoms in the country, and this is reflected in the rebuilding of the castle from about 1350 to 1400, and St Mary’s at the same time. Both buildings had to reflect the earls’ status.
The medieval gem that is the Beauchamp chapel was built between 1441 and about 1455 to house the tomb of Richard, the 13th earl. The nave and tower were destroyed in the Great Fire of Warwick in 1694, but thankfully the chancel, chapter house and, most importantly, the Beauchamp chapel were saved.
Timeline:
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 1123 | Roger, 2nd earl, grants a charter for the foundation of a college of priests at St Mary’s. |
| 1150 (abt) | St Mary’s is completely rebuilt in the Norman, or Romanesque, style. The crypt survives from this time. |
| 1360s | Thomas Beauchamp, 11th earl, reforms the college and plans the rebuilding of St Mary’s, but dies before much building work is done. |
| 1392 | The new chancel is finished by Thomas, 12th earl, with the transepts and nave two years later. The Norman tower is retained. |
| 1439 | Death of Richard Beauchamp, 13th earl. His will directs the building of the Beauchamp chapel. |
| 1441 | Work starts on the Beauchamp chapel. |
| 1455 (abt) | Completion of the Beauchamp chapel. |
| 1475 | Richard Beauchamp’s body is moved into the Beauchamp chapel. |
| 1544 | The college of priests at St Mary’s is dissolved as part of the Reformation. |
| 1588 | Death of Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Dudley, earl of Leicester and his burial in the Beauchamp chapel. |
| 1621 | Fulke Greville’s tomb is erected in the redundant chapter house, seven years before his death. |
| 1643 | Parliamentary troops from the garrison at the castle vandalise St Mary’s, including smashing glass in the Beauchamp chapel and the chancel. Thankfully the vandalism was confined to one occasion, and much survived or was repairable. |
| 1694 | The Great Fire of Warwick destroys a third of the town, including the nave, transepts and tower of St Mary’s. Thankfully the east end of the church, including the Beauchamp chapel, are spared. |
| 1697 | Work starts on the new St Mary’s under Sir William Wilson, a sculptor from Sutton Coldfield who had never designed a church before and never did again. The master masons included Francis Smith, who went on to build the Court House in Warwick and the Radcliffe Camera in Oxford. |
| 1705 | John Rippingall is the first person to be baptised in the new font. |
| 1708 | Samuel Dunckley, a local mason from a poor part of town but who played an important role in Warwick’s rebuilding (including at St Mary’s) completes his masterpiece, the new portal to the Beauchamp chapel. |
| 1795 | Removal of the stone screen, or pulpitum, between the nave and the chancel, so opening up the wonderful vista through the church that we enjoy today. |
| 1880s and 90s | A restoration programme saw the removal of the galleries in the nave, repairs to the tower, and renovation of the chancel, including a new altarpiece and new glass. |
