St Mary's Church, Castlegate, York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary’s Church, Castlegate, York |
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
St Mary’s Church, Castlegate, York
|
|
| 53°57′25.8″N 1°4′49.8″W / 53.957167°N 1.080500°W | |
| Location | York |
| Country | England |
| Previous denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://www.yorkstmarys.org.uk/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary the Virgin |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Completed | 11th century |
St Mary's Church in Castlegate, York, is a very old and important building. It used to be a church for the Church of England. It is so special that it is listed as a Grade I building. This means it is protected for its history and beauty.
History of St Mary's Church
This church is found on Castlegate, a historic street right in the middle of York. The first church here was built in the 11th century. However, most of the building you see today was built in the 15th century.
A famous person named John Nevison was buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard. This happened in March 1684.
The church building was repaired and updated between 1867 and 1870. During this time, the large window at the east end was replaced. The roof was also fixed, and the wall at the east end was rebuilt. These repairs were done by an architect named William Butterfield.
The Church Organ
We do not know exactly when the first organ was put into the church. However, it was repaired in 1884 by Hopkins of Heworth. This repair cost £45. A brand new organ was installed in 1892 by a company called Abbott & Co.
You can find detailed information about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register. When the church stopped being used for services, its organ was moved. It now helps make music at St Thomas’ Church in Heigham, Norfolk.
St Mary's as an Exhibition Space
In 1958, the church was no longer needed for regular church services. It was then changed by George Pace and Ronald Sims to be used for other things. Today, it is a place where you can see contemporary art exhibitions. The York Museums Trust manages these exhibitions.
Many artists have shown their work here. These include Susan Stockwell and Susan Aldworth. The church has also hosted the Aesthetica Art Prize, which is a competition for artists. In 2016, over 6,900 people visited the exhibitions at the church.
