St Mary Magdalene Church is a church in Sandringham, Norfolk, England, located just to the southwest of Sandringham House. Members of the British Royal Family attend services when in residence at Sandringham, which normally includes Christmas.^[1] The church is dedicated to Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus. The rector is the Reverend Canon Paul Williams.^[2]

History[edit]

The Grade II* listed^[3] church is dedicated to Mary Magdalene^[4] and is described as a small building in the Perpendicular style, "nobly lying on raised ground".^[5][6] The current building dates to the 16th century and was restored by S. S. Teulon in 1855 and Arthur Blomfield in 1890. It is considered to be a noteworthy example of a carrstone building.^[7][8] It is located in the park and is approached from Sandringham House through the garden by "an avenue of fine old Scotch firs".^[6]

Much of the decoration and the church's stained glass in the east window was created by Charles Eamer Kempe whom King Edward VII had also commissioned in 1903 to create a stained glass window for Buckingham Palace of his eldest son, Prince Albert, Duke of Clarence.^[9][10] The church's silver altar and reredos, created 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 her with the silver pulpit and a silver 17th-century Spanish processional cross. Of note also is a Florentine marble font and a Greek font dating to the 9th-century.^[7][11]

Burials[edit]

There are memorials to many members and relations of the Royal Family in the church and churchyard. Prince John (12 July 1905 – 18 January 1919) is buried here. After his death in February 1952, the body of King George VI was placed in the church for two days prior to its lying in state in Westminster Hall.^[12]

Baptisms[edit]

The church has been the site of many royal baptisms. These baptisms include:^[13][14]

• King George VI was baptised on 10 February 1896
• Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood, was baptised on 7 June 1897
• King Olav V of Norway was baptised on 11 August 1903
• Prince John was baptised on 3 August 1905
• Diana, Princess of Wales, was baptised on 30 August 1961^[15]
• Princess Eugenie of York was baptised 23 December 1990
• Princess Charlotte of Wales was baptised 5 July 2015^[16]