St Mary's, Studley Royal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's |
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| Church of St Mary, Studley Royal | |
St Mary's Church, Studley Royal (December 2009)
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 St Mary's
Location in North Yorkshire
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| 54°07′07″N 1°34′49″W / 54.11874°N 1.58021°W | |
| Location | Studley Royal, North Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| History | |
| Founded | 1871-8 |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Listed building - Grade I |
| Architect(s) | William Burges |
| Architectural type | Gothic Revival |
| Style | Early English |
The Church of St Mary, Studley Royal, is a beautiful old church in North Yorkshire, England. It was built a long time ago, between 1871 and 1878, in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like churches from the medieval Gothic period, but it was built much later. The famous architect William Burges designed it.
This church is special because it was built as a memorial. It honors Frederick Grantham Vyner, who was the brother-in-law of the 1st Marquess of Ripon. You can find St Mary's Church in the amazing grounds of Studley Royal Park at Fountains Abbey.
The Story Behind the Church
Frederick Vyner was a young man who sadly died in 1870. He was killed by bandits in Greece during an event known as the Dilessi massacre. A large amount of money had been collected to pay for his release, but he died before it could be used.
After his death, Frederick's mother, Lady Mary Vyner, and his sister, Lady Ripon, decided to use the money that was not spent. They chose to build two churches to remember him. St Mary's Church is one of these two churches. The other is the Church of Christ the Consoler at Skelton-on-Ure.
The architect William Burges was chosen to design the church. He was a good friend of John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, who was also a friend of Frederick Vyner. Work on St Mary's Church began in 1871, and it was officially opened in 1878.
There is a very old chestnut tree near the church. It might be a leftover from trees planted there many centuries ago.
How the Church Looks
St Mary's Church shows a change in William Burges's design style. He started using more English church styles from the past. One expert, Nikolaus Pevsner, called it "a Victorian shrine, a dream of Early English glory." This means it's a wonderful example of Victorian architecture that looks like older English churches.
The inside of the church is truly amazing. It is even richer and more grand than the other church Burges designed for Frederick Vyner. The stained-glass windows are especially beautiful and well-made.
Burges worked with his usual team of talented artists to create the church. The sculptures were made by Thomas Nicholls. The designs for the stained glass were created by Frederick Weekes and then put together by a company called Saunders & Co. Many people consider St Mary's to be Burges's best church design.
The church is a very important historical building. It is a Grade I Listed Building, which is the highest level of protection for historic buildings in England.
More to Explore
- Grade I listed buildings in North Yorkshire
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Northern England
