St Margaret's Church, York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York |
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St Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York
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| 53°57′23.7″N 1°4′21.4″W / 53.956583°N 1.072611°W | |
| Location | York |
| Country | England |
| Previous denomination | Church of England |
| Website | www.ncem.co.uk |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Margaret |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Arts centre |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Designated | 12 June 1954 |
| Style | Medieval |
| Closed | 1974 |
St Margaret's Church is a very old and special building located on Walmgate in the city of York, England. It used to be a church for the local community, part of the Church of England. Today, it's recognized as a Grade I listed building, which means it's super important historically and architecturally.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
How Old is St Margaret's?
St Margaret's Church is incredibly old! Parts of it, like the south porch, date all the way back to the 12th century. That's over 800 years ago! The main part of the church, called the nave, was built in the 14th century. The vestry, a room often used for changing clothes or storing church items, was added in the 15th century. The church's tower was rebuilt much later, between 1684 and 1685.
Big Changes and Repairs
Over the years, the church needed some updates. A man named Thomas Pickersgill helped restore it between 1851 and 1852. During this time, the north wall was moved out a bit to make more space. The gallery, which is like a balcony inside the church, was made bigger. They also put in a new floor and new pews, which are the long benches where people sit. A brand new roof was also added to the nave.
From Church to Arts Centre
In 1974, the church was no longer used for regular church services by the Church of England. For a while, the York Theatre Royal used it to store things. But then, in the year 2000, St Margaret's Church got a new life! It reopened as a special place for the National Centre for Early Music. Now, it's a busy venue where people can enjoy performances and other events.
The Organ
What Happened to the Organ?
St Margaret's Church once had a beautiful pipe organ. This organ was built in 1855 by a company called Ward. A pipe organ is a large musical instrument that makes sound by pushing air through many pipes. You can find details about this specific organ on the National Pipe Organ Register. However, the organ is no longer inside the church today.
