St Mary's Church, Castlegate, York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary’s Church, Castlegate, York |
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St Mary’s Church, Castlegate, York
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| 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. Now, it's a special place where people can see amazing art!
This building is so important that it's called a Grade I listed building. This means it's one of the most historically and architecturally significant buildings in England. It's protected because of its special history and beautiful design.
History of St Mary's Church
The church is found on Castlegate, a historic street right in the middle of York. The first church building here was built way back in the 11th century (that's the 1000s!). However, most of what you see today was built much later, in the 15th century (the 1400s).
Between 1867 and 1870, the church had a big makeover. Workers replaced the large window at the east end. They also put a new roof on the building. The top edge of the east end was also fixed up. These changes were designed by a famous architect named William Butterfield.
The Church Organ
We don't know exactly when the church first got its organ. But we do know it was fixed in 1884. This repair cost £45, which was a lot of money back then!
In 1892, a brand new organ was installed by a company called Abbott & Co. An organ is a large musical instrument that uses pipes to make sound. When the church was no longer used for services, this organ was moved. It now helps make music at St Thomas’ Church in Heigham, Norfolk.
St Mary's as an Exhibition Space
In 1958, St Mary's Church was no longer needed for church services. This is called being "declared redundant." After that, it was changed to be used for other things. Architects George Pace and Ronald Sims helped with this change.
Today, the building is a cool place for contemporary art exhibitions. This means it shows modern art. The York Museums Trust runs these exhibitions. Many artists have shown their work here, including Susan Stockwell and Susan Aldworth. It has also hosted the Aesthetica Art Prize, which is a big art competition.
In 2016, over 6,900 people visited the art shows at the church. It's a great example of how old buildings can find new life!
