Church of St Mary, Medieval church in Ware, England
The Church of St Mary is a medieval parish church in Ware with a cross-shaped layout comprising a chancel, transepts, and nave built from flint and decorative stone dressings. The building was extended northward in 1982 to accommodate modern community needs while preserving its original structure.
The building began around 1250 and underwent major expansions during the 1390s when clerestories and aisles were added. These rebuilding campaigns reflected the growing importance of the church during the late medieval period.
The building holds an octagonal font carved with saints and the head of King Richard II, showing how medieval communities expressed their faith and loyalty to the crown. These carved details remain visible reminders of religious life centuries ago.
The building sits on Church Street in central Ware and is straightforward to locate in the town. Regular worship services take place here, giving visitors the chance to experience the space as an active community gathering point.
A former vicar of the church, Charles Chauncy, later sailed to America and became President of Harvard College. This unlikely path reveals how someone from a quiet English parish went on to shape early American education.
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