St. Mary, Fairford, Gloucestershire
Description
The church of St. Mary is a large and handsome edifice of stone in the Late Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles and a fine central tower with pinnacles, containing a clock and 8 bells: the chancel, aisles and chapels are embattled; the east end of the north aisle anciently formed the Lady chapel, and that of the south aisle the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament; both are inclosed by very fine screens of oak of the same date as the church, beside which the ancient oak choir stalls also remain, and these have misereres, carved with quaint devices: the reredos was erected and the chancel re-floored at the cost of the Rev. Francis William, 5th Baron Dynevor, sometime rector here, who died 3 Aug. 1878: the church is chiefly remarkable for its beautiful stained windows, 28 in number, the gift of Sir John Tame, a wealthy wool stapler, who erected the church in 1499; they are said to have been executed from designs by the famous Albert Dürer, and represent the leading events in the history of our Lord: beneath the screen dividing the Lady chapel from the choir, is a tomb of Purbeck marble, with effigies and inscriptions in brass to John Tame esq. ob. 8 May, 1500, and Alice, his wife, ob. 20 Dec. 1471; the male figure is in armour, and at the angles and foot of the tomb are shields of arms of Tame and Twynihow: on the floor in the same chapel is a blue marble slab with effigies and inscription to Sir Edmund Tame kt. ob. 1 Oct. 1534, and Agnes, his first wife, ob. 26 July, 1506; the figures include that of the knight in armour, his two wives and five children: on the wall near is a brass with kneeling effigies of the same, and another inscription including Elizabeth, his second wife: in this chapel is also an altar tomb with recumbent effigies in freestone, to Sir Roger Lygon and Catherine, his wife, and shields of arms of Lygon impaling Dennys quartering Corbett, Russell and de Georges: in the chancel is a memorial to William Oldisworth, ob. 3 Oct. 1680, and to Mary (Austin), his wife; and also a marble tablet to the Rev. John Keble M.A. sometime vicar of Coln St. Aldwyn and of Blewbury, Berks, and father of the author of the "Christian Year," and to other members of the family: in the church is a lectern with chain and padlock, to which is attached an ancient copy of Calvin's "Institutes" and "The Whole Duty of Man," dated 1725: in 1889-91 the church was thoroughly restored and the windows re-leaded, at a cost of £4,750, defrayed by public subscription, including £25 given by Queen Victoria: there are sittings for 500 persons.
Church Records
The parish register dates from 1641.
The Phillimore transcript of Marriages at Fairford 1619-1837 is available to browse online.