Rugby, St Marie's Church c.1955

Photo ref: R69019

More about this scene

In 1862 the church was enlarged, with a spacious nave replacing the original aisle and Lady Chapel, leaving the nave and chancel to form the south aisle. Unfortunately the tiny saddleback tower of the old church was now seriously out of proportion to the new, larger church. Captain Hibbert, now a Catholic convert, paid for a new spire and tower, both of which were constructed of Ancaster stone with ashlar dressings of the same material; the sculpture was mainly of Portland stone. The interior work was carried out by Parnell & Son. John Hardman of Birmingham made many of St Marie's stained glass windows, though two splendid windows in the south aisle were made by Mayor of Munich. In the south aisle chapel are the archangel windows, installed in 1997 by Aidan McRae Thomson. These depict the vision of St Hubert, a hunter converted to Christianity after seeing a vision of the Holy Cross between a stag's antlers. There is a superb sculpture of St Hubert and the stag outside the west door. Other features of interest include the wooden-beamed mediaeval style roof, the fine organ loft overhanging the west end of the church, the huge crucifix hanging above the ornate marble altar and the floor of the south aisle chapel, tiled in the Arts and Crafts style of William Morris.