First things first, this church is so special that it's actually a Grade II listed building! That means it's officially recognized by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport as a place of great architectural and historic interest. Pretty fancy, huh?
Now, let's go back in time a little bit. The original church that stood here dates all the way back to possibly the 12th century. But unfortunately, Mother Nature wasn't very kind, and a storm in 1843 caused some serious damage. So, what did they do? They rolled up their sleeves and rebuilt the church between 1849 and 1850, under the watchful eye of architect Henry Isaac Stevens.
Fast forward to November 4, 1850, and the church was consecrated by the Right Revd. Dr. Kaye, Bishop of Lincoln. You can just imagine the excitement and the celebration that must have taken place on that day!
But the story doesn't end there. Later on, in 1900, a talented architect named William Arthur Heazell added a beautiful chancel to the church. And in 1946, they even threw in a north chapel for good measure. They just couldn't stop adding more lovely spaces!
Now, let's talk music. This place has some serious sound coming from its organs. In 1852, the assistant organist of St. Paul's Cathedral, George Cooper, opened a brand spanking new organ here. And that's not the end of it! In 1872, Forster and Andrews gifted the church with a fantastic pipe organ that is still in use today. You've got to hear it to believe it!
And hey, don't forget to look up! The tower here is home to eight beautiful bells, courtesy of John Taylor and Company of Loughborough. They've been chiming away since 1919-1920 and even 1860. Talk about melodies that stand the test of time!
Oh, and by the way, the church's old clock was retired in 1949 and replaced with a shiny new one by G. & F. Cope. This baby has an all-electric mechanism, so you can bet it keeps perfect time.
So there you have it, the Church of St Mary the Virgin and All Souls in Bulwell, a place steeped in history, music, and lively stories. It's no wonder that it's such a beloved landmark in the heart of Nottingham. Shall we move on to the next stop on our adventure?
