St Mary's Chapel, Lead facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Lead |
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St Mary's Chapel, Lead, from the south
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| OS grid reference | SE 464 368 |
| Location | Near Saxton, North Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Groundbreaking | 14th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
| Materials | Stone |
St Mary's Church, Lead, is a very old Anglican chapel. It stands alone in fields about 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) west of Saxton, North Yorkshire, England. Even though it's a chapel, people usually call it a church. The Churches Conservation Trust takes care of it. This special building is listed as a Grade II* historic site.
The chapel is close to where the famous Battle of Towton happened in 1461. This battle was a big part of the Wars of the Roses. In the 1930s, a group of local walkers, called ramblers, saved it from falling apart. That's why it's known as the "Ramblers' Church."
A Look Back in Time
This chapel was built in the 14th century. It was likely the private chapel for a medieval manor house that no longer exists. People think the Tyas family built it. Some parts were added to the chapel in the 18th century.
We know an even older chapel might have been here before. In 1934, workers found a grave slab from the 9th or 10th century. They also found foundations of a larger church or chapel. This older building was about 7 meters (23 feet) long and held two stone coffins.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, the chapel was repaired. In 1912, it became part of the parish of Saxton. Before that, it was a separate small chapel. By 1931, the chapel was in ruins. But a group of local ramblers stepped in to save it. They carried out repairs. They moved the 18th-century communion rails. The tall, three-level pulpit was moved to the northeast corner. A new stone altar was built, and the old medieval altar slab was placed on top. The font was probably moved around this time too.
On November 6, 1932, the chapel was officially re-dedicated. More restoration work happened in 1934. Later in the 20th century, fewer people lived nearby. Because of this, the chapel was no longer needed for regular services. It became a redundant church and came under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust in 1980. Today, a private group helps maintain it.
What the Church Looks Like
St Mary's is a small chapel made of stone. It is about 5.5 meters (18 feet) long and has a simple rectangular shape. At the west end, there is a small tower for a bell, called a bellcote.
The inside of the chapel is very simple. It has benches that might be from the medieval period. On the east wall, there are wooden boards. These boards have sentences from the Holy Communion service written on them. They date back to the 18th century. The chapel also has a three-level pulpit, a stone altar, and a font for baptisms.
Friends of Lead Church
A group called the Friends of Lead Church helps maintain St Mary's. They work to keep the chapel in good condition. An annual service is held there each year.
See also
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Northern England
- Walesby, Lincolnshire where All Saints' is also known as the 'Ramblers' Church'
