St Andrew's Church, Rugby

The Church of St Andrew is a Church of England parish church in the heart of Rugby, Warwickshire. It is a Grade II* listed building.[1] It is unique in having two peals of bells hung in separate towers and is part of the Major Churches Network.[2]

St Andrew's Church, Rugby
St Andrew's Church seen from the north
St Andrew's Church, Rugby
52.3726°N 1.2614°W / 52.3726; -1.2614
LocationChurch Street, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 3PT
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
ChurchmanshipLiberal Catholic
Websitestandrewrugby.org.uk
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Functional statusParish church
Heritage designationGrade II* listed
Years built14th century original but major rebuilding in 19th century
Administration
ParishRugby St Andrew
DeaneryRugby
ArchdeaconryArchdeaconry of Coventry
DioceseDiocese of Coventry
Clergy
RectorRev Canon Edmund Newey
Laity
Reader(s)Sue Goddard
Director of musicDr Richard Dunster-Sigtermans
Churchwarden(s)Joyce Woodings and Hash Mistry
Parish administratorKate Foster

History

The first record of a church at the site was from 1140, originally as a chapel of the mother church at nearby Clifton-upon-Dunsmore, until Rugby became a parish in 1221. The oldest surviving part of the church is the 72 ft (22 m) high west tower which is unusual in that it bears strong resemblance to a castle tower, and was likely built to serve a defensive as well as religious role. According to a local legend, the tower was built from stones from a castle at Rugby, which had been demolished on the orders of Henry II, who forbade private fortifications without royal approval, however there was no prohibition against fortified churches, and so the tower may have been constructed in order to provide a place of defence, while still conforming to the statute. The west tower is usually dated to the 14th century, but was possibly built during the reign of Henry III (1216–1272), and is Rugby's oldest building. The church has other artefacts of medieval Rugby including the 13th-century parish chest, and a medieval font.[3][4]

In order to cater for the growing population of the town, the church was extensively rebuilt and enlarged in the 19th century. In 1877, the church was restored and expanded by William Butterfield, while retaining part of the original building. From 1895 to 1896, further additions were made to the church by Ewan Christian to Butterfield's original designs, including a new east tower, added in 1895 which has a spire 196 ft (60 m) high.[3][1]

Very unusually, both of the church towers have ringable bells, the main peal of bells (all cast in 1896 by Mears & Stainbank, London) being located in the eastern tower, and the old peal (all cast in 1711 by Joseph Smith of Edgbaston) located in the western tower.[5]

On 11 October 1949, the church was designated a grade II* listed building.[1]

Present day

St Andrew's stands in the liberal catholic tradition of the Church of England.[6][7]

Notable clergy
  • The church seen from Regent Street, Rugby
  • Drawing of the church from 1825, prior to its expansion and addition of the second tower
  • Photograph of church prior to being enlarged in 1877
  • The church seen from the south
  • Close up of the Medieval west tower

References
  1. Historic England. "Church of Saint Andrews (1183695)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  2. "St Andrew's, Rugby". Greater Churches. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
  3. Osbourne, Andy, Rawlins, Eddy (1988). Rugby Growth Of A Town.
  4. Wait, Rev W.O. (1893). "Rugby:past and present, with an historical account of neighbouring parishes". pp. 46–47.
  5. "Rugby". warksbells.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
  6. "ST ANDREW'S CHURCH, RUGBY – PARISH PROFILE" (PDF). Diocese of Coventry. 2019. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  7. "St Andrew's Church, Rugby, Rugby". A Church Near You. Archbishops' Council. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  8. "Woodbine Willie, WW1 Padre". St Andrew's Rugby. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
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