Church of St Mary the Virgin, Muker

Last updated

Church of St Mary, Muker
Church of St Mary the Virgin, Muker
St Mary Muker
Church of St Mary Muker.jpg
Church of St Mary, Muker
North Yorkshire UK location map (2023).svg
Red pog.svg
Church of St Mary, Muker
Location within North Yorkshire
54°22′35″N2°08′21″W / 54.3763°N 2.1391°W / 54.3763; -2.1391
Location Muker, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Denomination Church of England
Website Official website
History
Founded1580
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Administration
Diocese Leeds
Archdeaconry Richmond and Craven
Deanery Richmond
Benefice Swaledale with Arkengarthdale
Parish Swaledale with Arkengarthdale
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated7 December 1966
Reference no. 1302046

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is an Anglican church in the Upper Swaledale village of Muker, in North Yorkshire, England. It is one of four churches in the ecclesiastical Parish of Swaledale with Arkengarthdale. The church was constructed in 1580, but previous to this, a chapel-of-ease had stood on the site which came under the Church of St Andrew in Grinton. Until the consecration of St Mary's, baptisms, weddings and funerals, had to be conducted at the church in Grinton. The Church of St Mary the Virgin, is noted for being a rare example of a house of worship being built during the Elizabethan era.

Contents

Ecclesiastical background

The parish registers for Grinton record that in August 1580, the Bishop of Chester, William Chaderton, [note 1] visited to

...allow the inhabitants there to baptize, marry and to bury and to minister the sacraments of the church according to the prescribed order set downe in the Booke of Common prayer. Provided that the said inhabitants pay all their ecclesiasticall dutyes to the vicar of Grinton... [sic]" [1]

Until the consecration of the graveyard, deaths occurring in Muker, Keld and Upper Swaledale, involved carrying the deceased along the Corpse Road to Grinton for burial, some 10 miles (16 km) to 14 miles (23 km) to the east. This process could take three days to accomplish and involved many stops. [2] [3]

The church at Muker was thus allowed to carry out its own affairs, whilst still being tied to St Andrew's at Grinton. St Mary's stayed as a daughter church to the parish church in Grinton for 300 years when it was finally granted its own parish in 1892. [4] The church was the focus of much religious activities in the area after the chapel at Keld was destroyed. Some records point to the destruction being part of a riot linked to the Dissolution. [5]

Speight, writing in "Romantic Richmondshire", describes the village as: "The grey, old village of Muker, with its plain little church, stands under the precipitous scars of Kisdon..." [6]

History

The church was built in 1580, which makes it rare as an example of an Elizabethan church; not many places of worship were built at this time. [7] [8] Originally, the roof was thatched, being replaced with slate in 1791. [9] It is thought that the tower was shorter when first built, than it is now, being adapted in 1719. [10] Glynne describes the tower as being "wholly devoid of character", the windows as being Perpendicular, and the whole structure as "mean and ugly". [11] The tower measures almost 7 feet 9 inches (2.36 m) by 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m), with the nave and chancel measuring 68 feet (21 m) in length, and 22 feet (6.7 m) wide. [12]

In the 1890s, some frescoes were revealed underneath the paintwork/whitewash, however, these were deemed worthless and so not kept. [5] [13] Earlier stonework, possibly from the 14th century, is included in the walls of the church, and the original bells in the tower were thought to have been brought up the valley from Ellerton Priory, after the Dissolution. [7] The bells were undated, but their narrow shape indicated a "Medieval date". [12] The church has a variety of stained glass, one of which (the east window) depicts the surrounding countryside, the River Swale and Straw Beck. [14] The church was renovated in 1890, when the west gallery was removed, something which not only made the church smaller, but was also unpopular with local parishioners. [13] The entrance to the church is a via the south door, over which a sundial is affixed. [15]

Besides the church, a grade II listed font is extant, though located in the churchyard, 9.8 feet (3 m) south of the porch door. It is possibly the original 1580 font. [16]

Parish and diocese

The church is located in the parish and benefice of Swaledale with Arkengarthdale, a community of four churches, the other three being St Andrew's Grinton, St Mary's, Arkengarthdale, and Holy Trinity at Low Row. [17] Historically, the church was in the Diocese of Chester, but is now in the Diocese of Leeds. [18] [19]

Notes

  1. ↑ Listed in the Grinton Parish Registers as William Chatterton.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richmondshire</span> Former local government district in England

Richmondshire was a local government district of North Yorkshire, England, from 1974 to 2023. It covered a large northern area of the Yorkshire Dales including Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, Wensleydale and Coverdale, with the prominent Scot's Dyke and Scotch Corner along the centre. Teesdale lay to the north. With a total area of 1,319 km2, it was larger than seven of the English ceremonial counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Swaledale</span> Valley in North Yorkshire, England

Swaledale is a valley in North Yorkshire, England. It is one of the Yorkshire Dales, which are part of the Pennines, and within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is named after the River Swale, which runs through it. Swaledale is the most northerly of the major dales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reeth</span> Village in North Yorkshire, England

Reeth is a village 11 miles (18 km) west of Richmond in North Yorkshire, England, in the civil parish of Reeth, Fremington and Healaugh. Historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it is the principal settlement of upper Swaledale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muker</span> Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Muker is a village and civil parish at the western end of Swaledale in North Yorkshire, England, within the Yorkshire Dales.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gunnerside</span> Village in North Yorkshire, England

Gunnerside is a village in North Yorkshire, England. It is situated in Swaledale, on the B6270 road, 3 miles (5 km) east of Muker and 6 miles (10 km) west of Grinton. The village lies between the River Swale and its tributary, Gunnerside Beck, and is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkengarthdale</span> Dale in North Yorkshire, England

Arkengarthdale is a dale, or valley, on the east side of the Pennines in North Yorkshire, England. Running roughly north-west to south-east, it is the valley of the Arkle Beck, and is the northernmost of the Yorkshire Dales. It is a subsidiary dale to Swaledale, which it joins at Reeth. The history of the dale, its people, and farming, lead mining, and local crafts is displayed and documented in the Swaledale Museum in Reeth.

Marske is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England, situated in lower Swaledale on the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the village is approximately 5 miles (8 km) west of Richmond. According to the UK 2011 Census, the population of the parish of Marske, including New Forest was 127. The parish includes the hamlets of Applegarth, Clints, Feldom and Skelton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grinton</span> Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Grinton is a small village and civil parish in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England. Close to Reeth and Fremington, it lies 9 miles (15 km) west of Richmond on the B6270 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marrick</span> Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Marrick is a village and civil parish in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England, situated in lower Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the village is approximately 9 miles (14 km) west of Richmond. The parish of Marrick also includes the hamlets of Hurst and Washfold, according to the UK 2011 Census, the population of the parish was 148.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calver Hill</span> Peak in the Yorkshire Dales, England

Calver Hill is a fell in the Yorkshire Dales National Park in North Yorkshire, England. It is composed of limestone and is situated at grid reference NZ012003, near where the valleys of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale meet, the village of Reeth is located on its lower south-eastern slopes, it reaches an altitude of 487 metres (1,598 ft) and is a distinguished feature in mid Swaledale. Calver Hill is an area of grouse shooting and the fell is dotted with grouse butts. Most of the drainage from the fell goes north and easterly to join the Arkle Beck in lower Arkengarthdale which eventually joins the River Swale just south of Reeth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langthwaite</span> Village in North Yorkshire, England

Langthwaite is one of the few villages in Arkengarthdale, North Yorkshire, England. It is 3.5 miles (5.6 km) north of Reeth and sits 870 feet (270 m) above sea level. It is the main settlement in the dale and is one of the most northerly settlements in the whole of Yorkshire Dales National Park. Langthwaite is one of two places in the dale that have houses clustered together closely in a traditional village set up; the rest of the settlements in the dale are populated by scattered buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Stonesdale</span> Hamlet in North Yorkshire, England

West Stonesdale is a hamlet in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire, England. The secluded village is near Keld to the south, Tan Hill to the north and is both 10 miles (16 km) from Grinton and Askrigg. The small valley that cuts south from Tan Hill to West Stonesdale is also known as West Stonesdale and carries Stonesdale Beck 4 miles (7 km) south to the River Swale. A road heads north from the B6270 through West Stonesdale to Tan Hill. Where the road diverges from the B6270 is the site of Currack Force, a waterfall on Stonesdale Beck which drops 23 feet (7 m) before entering the Swale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angram, Richmondshire</span> Hamlet in North Yorkshire, England

Angram is a hamlet in the Yorkshire Dales in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated near to Keld to the north and Thwaite to the south. Angram forms part of the civil parish of Muker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arkle Town</span> Hamlet in North Yorkshire, England

Arkle Town is a hamlet in Arkengarthdale in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated 0.4 miles (0.64 km) to the south of Langthwaite and 2.7 miles (4.3 km) north-west of Reeth.

The Swaledale Festival takes place over two weeks in May and June each year, in churches, chapels, castles, ‘Literary Institutes’, pubs, fields and village halls scattered around Swaledale, Arkengarthdale and Wensleydale. The largest venues seat about 400 people; the smallest venues as few as 40. The main focus of the Festival is on small-scale classical chamber music. Choral music, folk music, brass bands and jazz also feature, as do talks, films, exhibitions, poetry readings, workshops and guided walks. The 2014 Festival featured Royal Northern Sinfonia, Natalie Clein, Nicholas Daniel, Don Paterson, Emma Johnson, Martin Taylor, Martin Simpson and the Navarra Quartet, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Anne, Catterick</span> Church in North Yorkshire, England

The Church of St Anne is a parish church in the village of Catterick, North Yorkshire, England. The present church structure dates back to the early 15th century, but some of its stones are from an earlier structure located on the same site. A place of worship in Catterick village is believed to have been in existence since the 7th century. The church has been dedicated to Saint Anne since its original consecration date of 1415.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary the Virgin, Hornby</span> Grade I listed church in North Yorkshire, England

St Mary's Church Hornby, is the parish church for the village of Hornby, Richmondshire in North Yorkshire, England. The church is one of six in the Benefice of Lower Wensleydale. The oldest parts of the building date back to the 11th century. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) south east of Richmond and 5 miles (8 km) north of Bedale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Andrew, Grinton</span> Anglican church in Swaledale, North Yorkshire, England

The Church of St Andrew, Grinton, is the parish church for the village of Grinton in North Yorkshire, England. The grade I listed structure has also been called The Cathedral of the Dales, and as the only parish church in Upper Swaledale, it was at the end of the Swaledale Corpse Way, where those who had died in the upper valley, were brought for burial. Grinton never developed past village status, but its noted crossing point of the River Swale afforded it more importance than other settlements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Yorkshire Dales floods</span> July 2019 floods in the Yorkshire Dales, England

In July 2019, parts of the Yorkshire Dales, in North Yorkshire, England, were subjected to above average rainfall for the time of year. The flash-flooding that followed affected many communities destroying bridges, sweeping roads away, causing landslips on railway lines and resulting in at least one public event being cancelled. The flooding even inundated the fire station in the town of Leyburn, in Wensleydale, whilst the crew were out helping those in need. The recovery took many weeks and months, with immediate help by the rescue services being bolstered by British Army personnel who assisted with the clean up.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary the Virgin, Richmond</span> Anglican church in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England

The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Richmond, is the Anglican parish church in the town of Richmond in North Yorkshire, England. Previously, there was another church, the Church of the Holy Trinity, which served as a chapel, and in the early part of the twentieth century, it was officiated over by the incumbent of St Mary's. In the 1960s, Holy Trinity was deconsecrated and now serves as the Green Howards' museum in the town.

References

  1. ↑ Slingsby, F William, ed. (1905). The registers of the parish church of Grinton in Swaledale, Co. York. Leeds: Yorkshire Parish Register Society. p. 63. OCLC   1052510022.
  2. ↑ "Resting-place?". The Church Times. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  3. ↑ Simon, Jos (2015). The rough guide to Yorkshire (2 ed.). London: Rough Guides. p. 215. ISBN   978-1409371045.
  4. ↑ Bibby, Andrew (2006). Wensleydale and Swaledale : the Northern Yorkshire Dales. London: Frances Lincoln. p. 84. ISBN   9780711225541.
  5. 1 2 Speight 1897, p. 268.
  6. ↑ Speight 1897, p. 254.
  7. 1 2 MSCACA 2002, p. 4.
  8. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Mary, Muker (Grade II*) (1302046)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  9. ↑ "St Mary the Virgin's Church, Muker". www.outofoblivion.org.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  10. ↑ MSCACA 2002, p. 5.
  11. ↑ Glynne, Stephen (1922). "Notes on Yorkshire Churches". Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. 26. Leeds: Yorkshire Archaeological Society: 263. ISSN   0084-4276.
  12. 1 2 "Parishes: Grinton | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  13. 1 2 Bierley, Arthur Harwood (31 July 1897). "Leaves for a Yorkshire Itinerary". Leeds Mercury. No. 18, 503. Column A. p. 10.
  14. ↑ Freethy, Ron (30 April 2009). "Muker Walk". infoweb.newsbank.com.
  15. ↑ "St Mary the Virgin's Church4541". sundialsoc.org.uk. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  16. ↑ Historic England. "Old Font Approximately 3 Metres South of porch of Church of Saint Mary (Grade II) (1317105)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 29 December 2020.
  17. ↑ "Swaledale Arkengarthdale Parish > Home". www.swaledalearkengarthdaleparish.org.uk. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
  18. ↑ Liber Ecclesiasticus. An authentic statement of the revenues of the Established Church compiled from the report of the Commissioners appointed to inquire into the Revenues and Patronage of the established Church in England and Wales. London: Hamilton, Adams & Co. 1835. p. 141. OCLC   1064949647.
  19. ↑ "Dashboard for the parish of Swaledale w Arkengarthdale in the Deanery of RICHMOND" (PDF). leeds.anglican.org. Retrieved 29 December 2020.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.