St Mary's Church, Harrogate facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Harrogate |
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St Mary's Church, Westcliffe Grove, Harrogate
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| OS grid reference | SE 294 547 |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Evangelical |
| Website | [1] |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
| Architect(s) | Walter Tapper |
| Completed | 1916 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Harrogate |
| Diocese | Leeds |
St Mary's Church in Harrogate, England, is a very old and important building. It's so special that it's listed as a Grade II* building, which means it's of great historical interest. This church used to be a regular parish church, but now it's no longer used for that purpose. Instead, a new church called Kairos Church meets in the old church hall nearby.
Contents
History of St Mary's Church
The First St Mary's Church
Back in 1822, people in Low Harrogate needed a place to worship. The people of Pannal agreed to help raise money for a new church. The first stone for the original St Mary's Church was laid on September 4, 1822. It was a simple building, finished in 1824 and officially opened in 1825. This church had 800 seats and became a parish church in 1830.
However, by 1903, the building was considered unsafe. In 1922, the headmistress of Harrogate Ladies' College, Elizabeth Wilhelmina Jones, bought the old church building. It was then rebuilt in the school grounds in 1923, but without its tower.
The Current St Mary's Church Building
The church building you see today was built in 1916. It was designed by an architect named Walter Tapper. He designed it in a style similar to English Gothic churches from the 14th century.
In 2007, this church building closed as a regular parish church because it needed a lot of repairs. Later, a new church group, still part of the Church of England, started using the nearby Westcliffe Hall. This new group is called Kairos Church. It is a lively church that serves the whole Harrogate area.
Today, the St Mary's Church building is owned by Shaw and Jagger Architects.
Lofthouse Memorial
Inside the church, there is a special stone chapel with a tomb. This is a memorial to Richard Chapman Lofthouse (1832–1907). He was a Deputy Surgeon General in the British Army and helped start the church. He served in important wars like the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny.
Church Bells
The church tower once held a set of 8 bells. These bells were made in 1916 by a company called Taylors of Loughborough. The largest bell weighed about 16 hundredweight (which is about 812 kilograms).
After the church was no longer used as a parish church, the four heaviest bells were removed. They are now located in the Grote Kerk (Great Church) in Dordrecht, Netherlands. Along with six new bells made in Europe, they form the first set of change ringing church bells in the Netherlands. They are also the heaviest set of change ringing bells on the European mainland.
Church Organ
The first organ in the church was put in place in 1895 by James Jepson Binns. This was later replaced in 1919 with a new organ made by Harrison and Harrison. You can find more details about this organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Organists
- J. E. W. Lord (started 1894)
- J. C. Stephenson, ARCO (around 1912)
- A. Beaumont, FRCO (1915 – 1946)
- Harold Mills (around 1954)
See also
- Grade II* listed churches in North Yorkshire (district)
- Listed buildings in Harrogate (Harlow Moor Ward)
