Image ID: 41847

Ceiling detail, St Mary's Church

St Mary's Church
Willoughby on the Wolds
Nottinghamshire
England

Although the original dedication of this church is obscure, it is usually referred to as St. Mary. The fabric consists of a nave with north and south aisles, a tower and spire, a large and rather plain chancel and a chantry chapel. There is also a modern south porch which probably occupies the place of an ancient one. Of the present building, the north and south arcades of the nave are the oldest portions, and they date to the early part of the 13th century - more or less contemporary with the signing of Magna Carta. Of these arcades the southern is a little older in fashion, and the usual explanation of the slight difference in style between it and its northern neighbour is that two unknown benefactors undertook each to build one arcade and each employed his own band of masons. This may be the true explanation, but a much more likely one is to be found in the fact that from 1208 to 1213 England was under an Interdict, during which time practically all religious activities, including church building, were suspended. The difference between these two arcades may represent this pause, the south arcade being put up just before the Interdict and the north arcade just after it. (information from www.nottshistory.org.uk)

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