St. Mary's Church, Charlton Kings

Church of St. Mary is a fine medieval church dating from the late 12th century. It was dedicated by William Bishop of Hereford at the request of Richard, Abbot of Cirencester. Cheltenham's own St. Mary's church belonged to the Augustinian Abbey of Cirencester and as Cheltenham's congregation was increasing size, there was a need for a new church.

There were some additions to the original building, which consisted of a nave, a chancel, two short transepts and a small bell tower in the late 13th century. The late 14th and the early 15th century saw the tower rebuilt with a very high chancel arch and a south aisle added. A major building alterations took place in the 19th century when the north aisle was built and the Rose Window was installed. Later in the 19th century the architect John Middleton altered the church's appearance by extending the nave, raising the floor and removing the galleries.

Inside the church, visitors can admire an ancient alms chest which is said to be dating back to 1190, the time of the Third Crusade, when such chests were ordered for collecting money. It also houses one of the oldest Royal Coat of Arms in the country. It dates back to 1660 when Charlton Kings as a strongly royalist village acquired the coat of arms to celebrate the restoration of Charles II.

Gate to the church

The real Tailor of Gloucester on whom Beatrix Potter based her novel, is buried in the cemetery of the church. His name was John Pritchard and he indeed owned a shop at 45 Westgate Street in Gloucester, but his true story is not as colourful as told by Beatrix Potter.

Robert Burns's granddaughters, Sarah and Annie Burns and his great-granddaughter Margaret Constance Burns Hutchinson were all buried at St Mary's church between 1909 and 1925. The poet's two sons, Lt Col. William Nicol Burns and Major James Glencairn Burns, had arrived in Cheltenham in 1846 after a military service in India. James Glencaim Burns remained here till his death on 18 November 1865, at the age of 71.