KNOW YOUR CHURCH  

A series of articles by Patricia Cook with line drawings by Jean Atkinson

 Patricia Cook, a former Churchwarden at St. Mary's, has written a series of informative articles on interesting aspects of the fabric of St. Mary's.

Jean Atkinson, a well known local artist, has been closely involved with St. Mary's for many years, including several years of service on the PCC.

         The Amber Tankard

In addition to the artefacts listed on the right hand side of this page, there are other items of interest for the visitor to St. Mary's.  The most valuable item belonging to St. Mary's is the Amber Tankard, of German workmanship, dated 1659, which is now in the care of the British Museum. This was given to the church by Dame Lydia Mews, tenant of North Mymms House, the daughter of George Jarvis. Monuments to George Jarvis and his daughter can be seen on the north wall of the church building.

The Amber Tankard was on loan to the V&A as part of their Baroque exhibition which ran earlier this year.

 More can be read about the Amber Tankard in chapter 5 of Dorothy Colville's North Mymms - Parish and People

There is also mention of the tankard in chapter 6  of The Victoria History of Hertfordshire, edited by W. Page in 1908, as well as many other interesting facts about the fabric of the church.

• Holy Water Stoup
• Mass Dial
• The Decalogue Board
• Gargoyles,Corbels or Label-stops
• A hidden gem
• A rare tomb
• Elephants and Royal Arms 
• The Pulpit
• The Kesteven Brass
• Seating over the years