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Guide to St Mary's Church

Exit door from porch

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Old ironmongery on exit door from porch A detail of some of the ironmongery on the exit door from the South Porch.

 

 

 Exit door from porch

 

The text below is quoted from the book "St Mary's Church - an account of its building over 400 years from 1120 to 1524" by W. C. B. Smith

At the beginning of the fifteenth century, the porch was an extremely important - and indeed necessary adjunct to a parish church. It was much more than a protection from the weather.

There, penitents received absolution before entering the church; women knelt to be churched; substantial parts of both the baptism and marriage services were held; civil business was carried out; coroners held their court; legacies were paid out by executors of wills; those breaking their marriage vows stood clothed in a white sheet; debts were collected and arguments resolved; and during church processions the porch served as a 'station'. The porch was a multipurpose addition to the church, and the provision of a seat around the porch was usual. At Cirencester there is a magnificent fifteenth century three-story porch, more than 40 feet high, which served as a meeting house for the brethren of many trade gilds: indeed for a time it was used as the Town Hall.
Last modified: 27 September, 2004