The Church of St. Mary Magdalene, Bridgnorth, is a parish Church in the Church of England, standing in East Castle Street, Bridgnorth, Shropshire, England. It is a grade II* listed building.
Localisation
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Early history
The College of St. Mary Magdalen, Bridgnorth was founded as a royal free chapel, and its church was in the royal castle at Bridgnorth. The nave, chancel and western tower were probably built c. 1238, and a north aisle was added, presumably after 1294, when a chantry service was founded in St. Mary's by Richard Dammas. As a Collegiate church it was originally intended as a private chapel for the castle, but by the later 15th century it was being used as a parish church. The college of canons was dissolved in 1548.
The current building
The church was designed by Thomas Telford and built by John Rhodes and Michael Head between 1792 and 1795. The church is aligned north–south, rather than the more usual west–east. The tower stands 120 ft high, and it has a clock, eight bells and a copper-covered roof. The parish's war memorial is a wooden triptych with a crucifix in the centre, above the Latin mottos "AMOR VINCIT" (Love conquers) and the town motto, "FIDELITAS URBIS SALUS REGIS" (In the town's loyalty lies the safety of the King) and listing its war dead from both World Wars.
Organ
The church has a magnificent Father Willis organ, purchased from Clifton College, Bristol.
Organists
William Roberts (Professor of Music and Organist) 1851-1872. Arthur C Clarke 1939 - 1972 Harold Cooper 1972 - 2002. John Turnock
Bells
The church has 8 bells, the heaviest weighing just over 8 cwt. These are usually rung twice weekly: on Wednesday practice night (7:30 pm – 9:00 pm) and for the main service on a Sunday morning (10:00 am – 10:30 am). Additionally, they are sometimes rung for weddings.
Sources
The buildings of England, Shropshire. Nikolaus Pevsner. Civil Engineering Heritage, by Roger Cragg Colleges of secular canons: Bridgnorth, St Mary Magdalen, A History of the County of Shropshire: Volume 2 (1973), pp. 123–128.