Church of St Mary Magdalene, Newark, Nottinghamshire

The parish church of St Mary Magdalene is the third on its site, right in the centre of Newark. The present tower was begun by 1230, while the remainder of the church was rebuilt in the two centuries after around 1310. The galleries accumulated during the 18th century were swept away in the mid-19th, when most of the stained glass was installed. A very fine and large Powell's opus sectile panel depicting 'The Adoration of the Lamb' was installed in 1912, to mark the 78th birthday of Newark's vicar during 1880-1907, Marshall Wild (who also has a memorial tile in the choir). The Powell's panel is now in the Lady Chapel, at the back of the reredos, itself a glorious golden affair dating from 1937, so it is not clear where the Powell's panel was originally placed. The choir has a (probably) Minton pavement, while there are memorial tiles dotted about throughout the church. These commemorate individuals, including the Borough Surveyor, but also events such as the installation of stained glass; this is unusual. There's also a royal coat of arms in the red and black pavement just inside the west door. Altogether a fine church, full of interest, ceramic and otherwise (although the roof leaks!) Click on the photos to enlarge, then use your browser's back button to return to this page.