St Mary's Church, Tadcaster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Tadcaster |
|
|---|---|
St Mary's Church, Tadcaster
|
|
| 53°53′08″N 1°15′44″W / 53.8855°N 1.2623°W | |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Broad Church |
| Website | St Mary, Tadcaster |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Mary |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Tadcaster |
| Diocese | Leeds |
| Province | York |
St Mary's Church is an old and active church in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England. It belongs to the Church of England. People have worshipped here since the 15th century.
Contents
Where is St Mary's Church Located?
St Mary's Church is found on Kirkgate, right by the old market square. It sits next to the River Wharfe. Because of this, the church has often experienced floods.
The Long History of St Mary's Church
Even though the Domesday Book doesn't mention a church in "Tatecastre," there's a record from AD 731. This record says that Hieu, who started Hartlepool Abbey, lived in Tadcaster. This makes people think there might have been a wooden church here even before the Normans arrived.
The First Stone Church and Rebuilds
The first stone church was built around 1150 AD. More parts were added until 1318. Sadly, the church was burned and attacked by the Scots that year. It was rebuilt even bigger around 1380. More additions were made between 1420 and 1480. This is how the church got its shape that we see today.
Dealing with Floods and Moving the Church
The church often got flooded, which was difficult for people attending services. It also caused damage to the building. In 1758, people asked for help with the flooding. An architect's report in 1859 noted that the top of the tower was leaning over by about 17 inches!
To protect it from future floods, the church was taken down between 1875 and 1877. It was then rebuilt in a new spot, raised about 4 feet higher. This worked well for a long time. However, in 2015, it flooded again to a depth of about 1 meter.
How the Church Was Rebuilt
The rebuilding project was led by an architect named Edward Birchall from Leeds. He used many of the old stones and carefully copied the original look of the church. The project cost £8,000, which was raised by people donating money.
During this rebuild, a 12th-century arch and a piece of an Anglo-Saxon cross were put into the church. However, the old wooden benches were replaced with newer, lighter ones. In 1897, the north wall was moved out by 8 feet, making the north aisle wider.
The church was officially listed as a Grade II* building on July 12, 1985. This means it's a very important historic building.
What the Church Building Looks Like
The church is built in a style called "Perpendicular." It uses local magnesian limestone and has a Welsh slate roof. The church has a tall tower at the west end with three sections. It also has a main area called the nave with aisles, a south porch, and a chancel with aisles. People have said it has "a fine show of buttresses, pinnacles and gargoyles." As mentioned before, it even has pieces from an older Norman church built into it.
The Tower and Bells
The tower is square and has battlements at the top, like a castle. It was originally a bell tower. A clock was added to it before 1764. The current clock, which has three faces, was put in in 1887. The church has 8 bells today. They were re-made in 1935 from an older set of 6 bells that dated back to 1760. The tower also has special spots where statues of saints used to stand.
Inside St Mary's Church
Inside the church, you'll see pointed arches supported by columns. There's a lot of beautiful carved wood. This includes the wooden benches from 1877, a pulpit from 1912, and a screen in the St Nicholas chapel from 1915. The floor is made of black and white marble and was added in 1903.
Stained Glass and Organ
The large East Window above the altar is made of stunning stained glass. It was created by Morris & Co.. Most of the design was done by Edward Burne-Jones, but some parts were designed by William Morris himself. The church organ was first built in 1833 by Elliot and Hill. It has been rebuilt three times since then.
-
Inside the church
-
The beautiful East Window
-
The organ and choir area
-
The pulpit
The Parish of St Mary's
The church is part of a larger parish that includes four churches. These churches are in Tadcaster, Newton Kyme, Kirk Fenton, and Kirkby Wharfe.
