Church History
The original church in Great Warley was situated much further south across the A127, at the end of Church Lane and only some of its gravestones now remain. That church started to fall into disrepair when the village moved to the higher ground where the village centre lies today, and in 1892 the then Rector Hammond Roberson Bailey built a wooden church in the grounds of his home "Fairsteads". On his death, this was bequeathed to the parish of Baildon in Yorkshire so was taken down and re-erected there.
In 1902, with money and the land donated by the Heseltine family, the present church of St. Mary the Virgin was built. The design and furnishing were entrusted to the architect Mr. C. Harrison Townsend and Sir William Reynolds-Stevens, sculptor and interior designer, both eminent artists in their fields, who could be expected faithfully to reproduce the contemporary Art Nouveau style for the interior.
It is one of only three in the Art Nouveau style churches in the country and has been said to be the best preserved of those. The church has been awarded Grade I listed status and its lychgate Grade II listed status.
Materials used for the interior are a mixture of various metals, marbles, and mother of pearl, together with the walnut furniture. There is much evidence all around of the Art and Craft movement and of the influence of the pre-Raphaelites. Locally, it is popularly known as the "Pearl Church", because of the widely used mother of pearl decoration. It is much visited by individuals, and groups, both from this country and abroad, also art students, as one of the best examples of the style.
The church was featured on BBC 2 in a series by Lucinda Lambton "Jewels of the M25", and by John Timpson on Anglia TV in 1996; also in January 2003 issue of the BBC Magazine 'Homes and Antiques'; and in August 2013 in Country Life.
In 1902, with money and the land donated by the Heseltine family, the present church of St. Mary the Virgin was built. The design and furnishing were entrusted to the architect Mr. C. Harrison Townsend and Sir William Reynolds-Stevens, sculptor and interior designer, both eminent artists in their fields, who could be expected faithfully to reproduce the contemporary Art Nouveau style for the interior.
It is one of only three in the Art Nouveau style churches in the country and has been said to be the best preserved of those. The church has been awarded Grade I listed status and its lychgate Grade II listed status.
Materials used for the interior are a mixture of various metals, marbles, and mother of pearl, together with the walnut furniture. There is much evidence all around of the Art and Craft movement and of the influence of the pre-Raphaelites. Locally, it is popularly known as the "Pearl Church", because of the widely used mother of pearl decoration. It is much visited by individuals, and groups, both from this country and abroad, also art students, as one of the best examples of the style.
The church was featured on BBC 2 in a series by Lucinda Lambton "Jewels of the M25", and by John Timpson on Anglia TV in 1996; also in January 2003 issue of the BBC Magazine 'Homes and Antiques'; and in August 2013 in Country Life.
Safeguarding Policy
We are committed to Safeguarding Children, Young People, Victims/perpetrators of Domestic Abuse and Vulnerable Adults.
The PCC has adopted the Church of England's policies and best practice on safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England's website at
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Jenny Cannon who may be contacted at church or by telephone on 01277 262884.
We are committed to Safeguarding Children, Young People, Victims/perpetrators of Domestic Abuse and Vulnerable Adults.
The PCC has adopted the Church of England's policies and best practice on safeguarding which may be found on the Church of England's website at
https://www.churchofengland.org/more/safeguarding
Our Parish Safeguarding Officer is Jenny Cannon who may be contacted at church or by telephone on 01277 262884.