St Mary's Church, Birdforth facts for kids
St Mary's Church, also known as Birdforth Old Chapel, is a very old church building in the small village of Birdforth, North Yorkshire, England. It used to be an Anglican church, which is part of the Church of England. Today, it is a special historic building looked after by the Churches Conservation Trust. It is listed as a Grade II listed building, meaning it's important and protected.
Quick facts for kids St Mary's Church, Birdforth |
|
|---|---|
St Mary's Church, Birdforth, from the south-west
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| OS grid reference | SE 486 757 |
| Location | Birdforth, North Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Birdforth Old Chapel |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade II |
| Designated | 20 June 1966 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Groundbreaking | 12th century |
| Completed | 19th century |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Stone rubble, tiled roofs |
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The oldest parts of this church were built way back in the 12th century. That's over 800 years ago! Over the centuries, new parts were added. Changes were made in the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
The church stopped being used for regular worship on November 1, 1975. This means it became a redundant church. It was then officially handed over to the Churches Conservation Trust on October 20, 1978. The Trust now takes care of it as a historic building.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is built from stone rubble, which means rough, uneven stones. Its roof is made of interlocking tiles. The building has a simple shape. It has a main hall called a nave with four sections, and a smaller area at the east end called a chancel.
Outside the Church
At the corners of the church, you can see special shaped stones called quoins. These stones help make the building stronger. At the west end, there is a brick structure called a bellcote. This is where the church bell would have been. It has openings with louvred slats, which let the sound out.
The bellcote has a pyramid-shaped roof covered in Welsh slates. At the very top, there's a decorative iron finial. At the east end, on the roof of the chancel, there is a cross. On the south side of the nave, there is a round-arched doorway. To the right of this door, you can see two windows. Each window has a round arch and two sections of glass.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, there is a round arch that separates the nave from the chancel. On the north wall of the chancel, there is a stone carving. It shows a coat of arms and is dated 1585.
The stand where readings are given, called a lectern, is from the 17th century. The pulpit, where sermons are delivered, was made around 1700. The font, used for baptisms, is very old. It dates back to the 12th century. It has a round, tub-like shape on a newer base. Its cover is from the 17th century. In the chancel, there is also a tomb. It is probably from the 14th century. The top of the tomb has a carving of a sword.
Want to Learn More?
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Northern England
- Listed buildings in Birdforth
