St Mary's - Nonington
Posted by: 
MeerRescue
N 51° 13.546 E 001° 13.524
31U E 376086 N 5676427
Quick Description: The parish church, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, has been the centre of faith and worship for more than 700 years.
Location: South East England, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 2/12/2012 12:47:11 PM
Waymark Code: WMDPZH
Views: 3
Long Description:
Surviving remains indicate that Nonington church
was built within two generations of the Norman Conquest of 1066 when the system
of dividing bishoprics (dioceses) into parishes, each with a priest was rapidly
developing. At first it consisted of a nave and smaller chancel only, occupying
all but the eastern end of the present north aisle. Then the tower and a small,
lean to, south aisle were added by the early 1200's. By 1300, this aisle had
been rebuilt much larger and wider as the present nave, with a new east end and
chancel.
A scratch dial was used by medieval parsons as a
form of sundial to mark the times services. The Nonington dial is of the
transitional type and dates from the 14th or 15th centuries, to mark the time it
has twelve small holes in a semi-circle around a larger central hole. The dial
is now built into the stone work of one of the chancel windows to the east side
of the lancet window to the right of the porch. The hours of six, nine and noon
are clearly indicated by dots or dotted crosses
marking the hours of services or devotions of pre-Reformation Vicars of
Nonington. There are several circles visible in the porch, these may have been
Consecration Crosses. Erosion has unfortunately partially erased some of those
features of the scratch dial, but much of it is still visible to-day
