St Margaret's Church, Durham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Margaret's, Durham |
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| St Margaret's Church, Durham | |
St Margaret's Church with Durham Cathedral in the background
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 St Margaret's, Durham
Location in Durham, England
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| 54°46′33″N 1°34′48″W / 54.7758°N 1.5799°W | |
| Location | Crossgate, Durham, County Durham, DH1 4PR |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Previous denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
| Churchmanship | Liberal Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | St Margaret of Antioch |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish Church |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 6 May 1952 |
| Years built | 12th century |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. Margaret Durham |
| Deanery | Durham |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Durham |
| Diocese | Diocese of Durham |
St Margaret's Church in Durham is an old and active church. It stands on Crossgate in the city of Durham, in the North-East of England. Much of the church was built way back in the 1100s. It's a special building, listed as Grade I, which means it's very important. Inside, the church looks unique, showing how it grew over many years.
Contents
How the Church Started
St Margaret's Church began in the 1100s. It was built as a smaller church for the people of Crossgate. This area was part of the bigger Parish of St Oswald. Both St Margaret's and St Oswald's were overseen by the leader of Durham Priory. Today, the Dean and Chapter of Durham Cathedral still look after the church.
The people of Crossgate sometimes felt it was unfair that they had to go to the main parish church for certain things. They also had to pay fees there. In 1343, there was a disagreement. The leader of Durham Priory even took away the font (a large bowl for baptisms) from St Margaret's. But the Bishop ordered it to be returned.
Soon after, the people of Crossgate were allowed to have weddings, baptisms, and other services at St Margaret's. In 1431, the churchyard was made sacred. This meant people could be buried there.
The Church's Design Over Time
The oldest parts of St Margaret's Church are from around 1150 AD. At first, the church likely had a main hall (the Nave), a side area (South Aisle), and the main altar area (the Chancel).
Building in the 1100s
A North Aisle was added later in the 1100s. This part of the church is taller and more detailed than the South Aisle. Both parts show the Norman style of building. The old font, which was once removed, is still there and is also from the 1100s. Two original Norman windows also remain. One is in the Chancel, and another is high up in the South Nave wall.
Changes in the 1300s and 1400s
In the 1300s, during the time of Bishop de Bury, the South Aisle was updated. New windows were put in above the Nave. More building happened in the 1400s. A special chapel for the Virgin Mary (Lady Chapel) was added south of the Chancel. The church tower was also built then. Two of the church's three bells are from this time. The third bell is from the 1500s.
Updates in the 1800s
In the second half of the 1800s, the church was restored inside and out. The North Aisle, which you can see from the street, was mostly rebuilt. Many new stained glass windows were also added. These windows are considered very good for their time.
The church has many memorials, mostly marble plaques from the 1700s and 1800s. On the floor of the Nave, there is a large stone slab. It marks the burial place of Sir John Duck, a mayor of Durham from the 1600s. He was known as 'Durham's Dick Whittington' because he started from very poor beginnings.
Modern Features of the Church
The church has a beautiful organ from 1917. It was made by Harrison & Harrison, a company that used to have its factory nearby. Arthur Harrison, who was a church leader at the time, gave the Choir section of the organ as a gift.
The eagle-shaped reading stand (lectern) is from 1909. It was given to remember members of the Shafto family who died in the Boer War. A more recent addition is a much-loved statue of the Madonna and Child. This statue, made by local art teacher Brian Scraton, was put in the church in 1993. It represents the idea of "Universal Motherhood."
Church Life and Worship
In the 1960s, under Rector Stephen Davis, St Margaret's became a lively center for a type of worship called Charismatic Renewal. It was a leading place for this kind of worship in northern England during the 1970s and 80s. This period ended when Fr Davis retired in 1988. Since then, the church has explored different styles of worship, from lively to more quiet and thoughtful. All these styles have helped shape what the church is like today.
An old guide to the church was written by Bertram Colgrave. He was a famous expert on Anglo-Saxon history and used to worship at St Margaret's. His guide is still available today, updated in 2008.
Groups Connected to St Margaret's
St Margaret's Church of England Primary School is located on Archery Rise. The school celebrated its 150th birthday in 2011. It moved to its current location in the mid-1970s.
The old school buildings on Margery Lane are now used by St Margaret's Centre. This center helps people with mental health problems learn new skills. St Margaret's Centre started in 1991, and church members still help run it.
St John's, Neville's Cross
St John's Church is across from an old marker called Neville's Cross, which pilgrims used to follow. St Margaret's built St John's as a Mission Church in the late 1800s. It was built in a green field area, expecting that homes would soon be built there. The church was officially opened on April 8, 1896, by Bishop Sandford.
Growth of St John's
The church was designed to be expanded later. Both the east and west walls had tall arches that could be opened up. The east end was expanded in 1908 when the chancel (altar area) was added. This was done to remember G. S. Ellam, a former church assistant who died in a motorcycle accident. A nearby street is also named after him.
The west end of the church was expanded much later, in 1994. A Church Centre was added just in time for the church's 100th birthday. Bishop Michael Turnbull opened it.
St John's Becomes Independent
For most of the 1900s, St John's was a smaller church connected to St Margaret's. The assistant priests from St Margaret's often looked after St John's. In the year 2000, St John's became a fully independent parish. The building was officially made sacred at that time. It is now known as "The Church at the Cross-roads."
Since 2007, an annual Eco-Festival has been held in the church grounds. This is a large, free community event. It shows the church's care for global issues like justice and the environment.
