St Mary's Church, Gosforth Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Gosforth
West end of St Mary's Church, Gosforth, with the Gosforth Cross standing to the right of the porch
St Mary's Church, Gosforth Location in Cumbria
54°25′09″N 3°25′53″W / 54.4192°N 3.4314°W / 54.4192; -3.4314
OS grid reference	NY 072 036
Location	Gosforth, Cumbria
Country	England
Denomination	Anglican
History
Status	Parish church
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Heritage designation	Grade I
Designated	9 March 1967
Architect(s)	C. J. Ferguson
Architectural type	Church
Style	Norman, Gothic Revival
Completed	1899 (1899)
Specifications
Materials	Stone, slate roofs
Administration
Parish	Gosforth
Deanery	Calder
Archdeaconry	West Cumberland
Diocese	Carlisle
Province	York

Gosforth Cross

St Mary's Church is a historic church located in the village of Gosforth, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church, meaning it serves the local community for worship. The church is very important because it is listed as a Grade I building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is a building of exceptional interest. St Mary's Church is also famous for its amazing collection of carved stones from the Viking Age.

A Brief History of St Mary's Church
What Does St Mary's Church Look Like?
Amazing Features Outside the Church
- Other Interesting Structures
Images for kids
See also

A Brief History of St Mary's Church

This church site has been a place of Christian worship since the 8th century, which is over 1200 years ago! The oldest parts of the church you see today were built in the 12th century. The church was rebuilt in 1789. However, most of the building you see now was created during a major reconstruction project. This work was done by an architect named C. J. Ferguson between 1896 and 1899.

What Does St Mary's Church Look Like?

St Mary's Church is built from stone and has a slate roof. The church's layout includes a main area called a nave, a north aisle (a side section), a south porch, a chancel (the area around the altar), and north vestries (rooms for clergy). The parts rebuilt in the 19th century are in a style called Decorated Gothic, which is known for its detailed decorations.

At the west end of the church, there is a small bell tower called a bellcote. The porch, which has a pointed roof, leads to the south door. To the right of this door, you can see a blocked-up Norman doorway. This doorway was originally on the north side of the church.

Inside the Church: Arches and Carvings

Inside, the church has a row of four arches on the north side, called an arcade. These arches have pointed tops and rest on columns with eight-sided tops. The arch leading to the chancel was built in the 14th century. It sits on beautifully carved Norman-style column tops.

In a special spot at the east end of the aisle, you can find two carved Viking hogback stones. These are very rare tomb markers from before the Norman Conquest. They were discovered under the church's 12th-century walls during the 1896–97 restoration. These stones are shaped like houses and are believed to be from the early 11th century or even earlier.

The larger hogback stone shows humans riding smaller snakes while fighting bigger snakes.
The smaller stone shows two armies that seem to be making a peace agreement.

Around this area and in the porch, there are other small pieces of medieval carved stones. The small, eight-sided font (used for baptisms) is from the 19th century.

A Chinese Bell with a Story

The church also has a unique Chinese bell from 1839. This bell was taken from the Anunghoy Fort during the Battle of the Bogue in 1841. This battle happened on the Canton River in China. The bell was given to St Mary's Church in 1844.

The Gosforth Fishing Stone

Outside the church, there is a special stone slab known as the Gosforth fishing stone. Many believe the same artist who carved the famous Gosforth Cross also carved this stone. It shows the Norse god Thor and the giant Hymir fishing for Jörmungandr, the huge serpent that wraps around the world. Below this scene, there is a picture of a hart (a type of deer) fighting a serpent. This stone might be a piece of another old cross.

Stained Glass and Organ

Most of the beautiful stained glass windows in the church were made by Ward and Hughes in the late 19th century. The church's pipe organ has two keyboards and was built by Conacher and Company. It was later rebuilt and made bigger in 1984.

Amazing Features Outside the Church

The most important feature in the churchyard is the Gosforth Cross. This is a tall stone cross from the Viking Age, carved in the early 10th century. It stands about 4.42 meters (14.5 feet) high and is covered with detailed carvings of people and animals. These carvings mostly show scenes from old Scandinavian stories and myths. It is the tallest Viking cross in England and is protected as a scheduled monument.

Another cross, from around the same time, has been cut down and now serves as a sundial in the churchyard.

Other Interesting Structures

In the northeast corner of the churchyard, there is a small hut or shed. This hut was built using leftover stones, including grave covers from the 13th century and pieces of stone with zigzag patterns. This structure is also a listed building, at Grade II. You can also find three old tombstones in the churchyard, dating from 1711 to 1729, which are also listed at Grade II.

Images for kids

Interior view of St Mary's church, Gosforth, Cumbria.
Hogback tombs in the church
Gosforth cross from the NW
Norman capital with three faces
The "fishing stone" in the church; possibly remnant of a second cross, showing Thor fishing.
Tombs in the porch
View of the Viking Cross and church, from the SW
The stump of the second cross
Memorial to Humphrey Senhouse, Gosforth, Cumbria
The grave of local antiquarian and historian, Charles Arundel Parker.