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St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham is a Church of England parish church, in Norfolk, England. It is close to Sandringham House and members of the British royal family regularly attend services when in residence at Sandringham, notably at Christmas.[1] The church is dedicated to Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus.
Since 2022, the Reverend Canon Paul Williams serves as Rector of Sandringham.[2][3]
Sandringham Church chancel
The Grade II* listed[4] The church is dedicated to Mary Magdalene[5] and is described as a small building in the perpendicular style, "nobly lying on raised ground".[6][7] The present building dates from the 16th century but was restored by Samuel Sanders Teulon in 1855 and Sir Arthur Blomfield in 1890. It is considered to be a noteworthy example of a carrstone building.[8][9] The church is situated in the park and is approached from Sandringham House through the garden by "an avenue of fine old Scotch firs".[7]
Much of the decoration and the church's stained glass in the east window was designed by Charles Eamer Kempe whom King Edward VII had also commissioned in 1903 to create a stained glass window at Buckingham Palace for his eldest son, Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence.[10][11] The church's silver altar and reredos, made by the silversmiths Barkentin & Krall, were presented to Queen Alexandra by the American department store owner Rodman Wanamaker as a tribute to Edward VII. He also presented the Queen with the silver pulpit and a silver 17th-century Spanish processional cross. Also of note are the Florentine marble font and Greek font dating to the 9th century.[8][12]
Many memorials to royal family members and relations can be seen at Sandringham Church and in the churchyard Prince John (1905–1919) is buried.
After the death of George V in January 1936, the King's coffin lay in state overnight in the church with an honour guard of estate workers. On the following morning, 23 January, the coffin was taken in a 2½ mile (4 kilometre) procession from the church to Wolferton railway station, with Edward VIII and his brothers walking behind and the rest of the royal family in carriages.[13] After George VI's death in February 1952, the body of the King was placed in the church for two days prior to lying in state at Westminster Hall.[14]
Many royal baptisms have taken place at Sandringham Church, including:[15]
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