Church of St Gregory, Bedale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Gregory, Bedale |
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| St Gregory's Church | |
The Church of St Gregory in Bedale
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| OS grid reference | SE265884 |
| Location | Bedale, North Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Weekly attendance | 80–100 (average) |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Pope Gregory I |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architectural type | Early English Decorated Perpendicular |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 120 feet (37 m) (west to east) |
| Width | 61 feet (19 m) (north to south) |
| Spire height | 98 feet (30 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Bedale |
| Deanery | Wensley |
| Archdeaconry | Richmond & Craven |
| Diocese | Leeds |
The Church of St Gregory, Bedale is a very old church in the town of Bedale, North Yorkshire, England. It's the main church for the area. A stone church was first mentioned here way back in 1086 in the Domesday Book. But the church you see today was mostly built in the late 1100s. It has been changed and added to over the last 800 years.
This church is a grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historical building. It has cool features like an old picture of a left-handed St George fighting a dragon. The tower, at the west end, was even built like a fortress with a special gate called a portcullis!
The church is at the 'Top of the Town', which is the north end of the main street. Its churchyard has old yew trees. It slopes down towards Bedale Beck on the east side. This church is so special that it's even in a famous book called England's Thousand Best Churches by Simon Jenkins.
Contents
History of St Gregory's Church
The Domesday Book from 1086 tells us that a church already stood on this spot. This means it likely survived a tough time in history called the Harrying of the North. Some experts believe the first church here was built around 850 AD. Parts of this very old Anglo-Saxon church are still inside the building today.
Ancient Discoveries in the Crypt
Underneath the main part of the church, called the chancel, there is a crypt. In the 1800s, old Anglo-Saxon stones were found here. These stones had cool carvings of serpents biting their tails. One even showed a serpent with a human head, like in the story of The Temptation. Two of these six stones are still in the crypt. The crypt might have been a special room for priests (a sacristy) before it became a burial place. It still has an old stone altar. You can get into the crypt from an outside door at the east end of the church.
Building Through the Centuries
The church we see today mostly dates back to the 1200s. But people kept adding to it and fixing it up in the 1300s, 1400s, and 1800s. For example, the nave (the main part where people sit) and the north aisle (a side section) are from the 1100s or 1200s. The south aisle and a chapel on the south side were built around 1290.
Because it was built over many years, the church shows three different building styles. These are Decorated, Early English, and Perpendicular. The first Anglo-Saxon church was probably about 48 feet (15 m) long and 24 feet (7.3 m) wide and tall. Today, the church is 120 feet (37 m) long and 61 feet (19 m) wide. Its tower is 98 feet (30 m) tall.
The church is named after Saint Gregory. We don't know exactly when it was first dedicated to him. But it was known as the Church of St Gregory in the 1300s. The first written proof of its name is from a will in 1547.
The Fortified Tower
The church's tower is 98-foot (30 m) tall and was built around the 1330s. It's quite rare for this part of England because it was built for defense! To protect the people of Bedale from attackers, a heavy gate called a portcullis was put at the bottom of the tower. You can still see the grooves where it used to slide down. It was forgotten for a long time until it fell down in the 1800s because of rust.
The middle floor of the tower has a fireplace and other things you'd find in a home. This makes people think it was part of Bedale Castle. The castle is believed to have been right next to the church. The very top part of the tower has a Perpendicular style. It has eight pointed decorations called pinnacles. Other nearby churches in Melsonby, Spennithorne, and Thornton Watlass also have similar strong towers from that time. The clock on the tower was given by the Beresford-Peirse family in 1873.
People used to think Bryan FitzAlan built the tower. But he died in 1306, before this style of building was common. It's more likely his wife, Mathilda, finished the tower in the 1330s. She lived until 1340. Much of the church's building is also linked to Thomas FitzAlan, Bryan's son. He was a priest at the church in the late 1100s.
Hidden Wall Paintings
During some repair work in the 1920s, several old wall paintings were found. These include parts of The Creed and The Lord's Prayer above the main seating area. There's also a painting of St George fighting a dragon in St George's Chapel. These paintings are thought to be over 500 years old. The St George painting is special because it shows him as left-handed while fighting the dragon. It's believed these paintings, which show the church's old Catholic past, were covered with white paint during a time of big changes called The Reformation.
The Jervaulx Bell
The church has one of the oldest bells in England that can still be rung! It weighs about 2.6 long tons (that's a lot!). It was put in place in 1360. This bell is known as The Jervaulx Bell. It was brought to the church from Jervaulx Abbey in the mid-1300s. The other eight bells in the bell tower are from the 1600s, 1700s, and 1800s. A smaller bell, called the Sanctus bell, was made in 1753.
Windows and Light
The beautiful east window in the Lady Chapel (the south aisle) is thought to have come from Jervaulx Abbey too. This happened after the abbey was closed down. A famous expert named Pevsner was a bit sad that most other windows are from the Victorian era. But he liked the East window, which was made by William Wailes. The Clerestory, a row of windows high up, was added in 1400. It lets lots of light into the church through its four windows on each side.
Modern Times
St Gregory's is the main church in a group of churches called the Bedale and Leeming and Thornton Watlass benefice. This group was formed in 2007 because there weren't enough priests. In 2016, the church roof got new stainless steel. This happened after the old lead roof was stolen. The church had to get special permission from Historic England to use a different metal. They also got money from a special fund to help fix church roofs. Simon Jenkins, in his book, called St Gregory's a "strong church in every sense" with a "fine crypt" and "magnificent headstones."
Effigies and Monuments
Inside the church, you can find old tombs and statues, called effigies. The tomb of Bryan FitzAlan and his first wife used to be on the south side. This tomb was damaged a long time ago. Now, the two statues of FitzAlan and his wife are at the north-western end of the church.
There's also a statue of Brian de Thornhill. He was the third priest in charge at St Gregory's starting in 1298. His statue is in the north chapel against the north wall. You can also see two more statues of knights in the tower. In the north chapel aisle, there's a brass statue set into the floor for Thomas Jackson. It has an old Latin message that is now hard to read.
An interesting fact: the 1700s showman and scientist Gustavus Katterfelto is buried near the altar in the church.
Listed Structures Around the Church
Besides the church itself, which is a very important Grade I listed building, there are three other structures in the churchyard that are also listed by Historic England. This means they are protected because of their history.
- The Old Grammar School: This building is grade II listed. It used to be a school, but now it's the church office.
- The Churchyard Gates: These gates are also Grade II listed. They are at the south entrance, facing the High Street.
- The War Memorial: This memorial is Grade II listed too. It was put up in 1920 to remember those who died in the First World War. Now, it also honors those who died in the Second World War.
The vicarage, which is the house where the priest lives, is just north of the churchyard. It is also a Grade II listed building.
Clergy
The Reverend Simon Moor became the vicar of the Benefice at Bedale in June 2019.
Gallery
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Interior door to the tower. The space between the two arches used to hold a portcullis for defensive purposes
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The font
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St George and the dragon
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Interior view looking east
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Stained Glass in the Lady Chapel
