St Mary's Church, Thirsk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary |
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| 54°14′06″N 1°20′45″W / 54.2349°N 1.3458°W | |
| Location | Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1PR |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Churchmanship | Central |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Dedication | St Mary Magdalene |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Parish church |
| Style | Perpendicular Gothic |
| Years built | 1430–1480 |
| Specifications | |
| Spire height | 80 feet (24 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Thirsk |
| Deanery | Mowbray |
| Archdeaconry | Archdeaconry of Cleveland |
| Diocese | Diocese of York |
The Church of St Mary is a beautiful old church located in Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England. It is a Church of England parish church, which means it serves the local community. This church is very special because it is a grade I listed building, recognized for its important history and architecture.
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History of St Mary's Church
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The Church of St Mary was built a long time ago, in the 15th century. This means construction started around the 1400s!
In 1857, the porch on the south side of the church was rebuilt. A big restoration project happened in 1877, led by a famous architect named George Edmund Street. During this work, old stained glass windows were found. These windows showed important symbols like the royal arms of England and the coats of arms of local families. The church officially reopened on October 2, 1877, after these important repairs.
Recent Events at the Church
In November 2016, St Mary's Church was part of a very special event for Remembrance Day. A group called the Thirsk Yarnbombers made over 40,000 knitted and crocheted poppies. They decorated the whole town with them! The main display was a "river" of poppies that flowed from the top of St Mary's Church, down its side, and across the wall of the church's cemetery. It was an amazing sight.
St Mary's Church is also famous for a special wedding. On November 5, 1941, Alf Wight married Joan Anderson here. Alf Wight is better known by his pen name, James Herriot, the beloved author of books about a country vet. Joan Anderson was the inspiration for the character Helen in his books, movies, and TV shows.
Parish and Other Churches
St Mary's is one of four churches that belong to the Benefice of Thirsk. A benefice is a group of churches that share a priest or a team of clergy. The other churches in this group are:
- St Wilfrid's Church in South Kilvington
- St Lawrence's Church in Carlton Miniott
- St Leonard's Church in Sandhutton
The Church Organ
The church has a pipe organ that was first built in 1813 by Andrew Wood. Over the years, this organ has been repaired and made larger. It helps to create beautiful music for church services and events.
The Church Bells
In 1859, the tower of St Mary's Church had four bells. The oldest bell was very ancient, dating back to 1410! People believed it might have come from Fountains Abbey. The other three bells were made in 1729, 1775, and 1805.
Between 1857 and 1864, two new bells were added. Then, in 1871, two more bells joined them, making a total of eight bells. Since then, only one of these eight bells, the sixth one, has been recast (melted down and made new) in 1926.
