Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Thornaby-on-Tees

Last updated

Church of St Peter, Thornaby
Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Thornaby
Old Church of St Peter
St Peter's Church, Thornaby
Thornaby Old St Peters 3.jpg
Thornaby, Old St Peters
Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Thornaby-on-Tees
54°32′28″N1°18′18″W / 54.541°N 1.305°W / 54.541; -1.305
OS grid reference NZ460164
Location Thornaby-on-Tees, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Denomination Church of England
Website Official webpage
History
Dedication St Peter (in chains)
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Style Norman
Specifications
Length40 feet (12 m)
Width17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m)
Administration
Diocese York
Archdeaconry Cleveland
Deanery Middlesbrough
Benefice South Thornaby
Parish St. Mark and St. Peter ad Vincula South Thornaby
Listed Building – Grade II*
Designated19 January 1951
Reference no. 1139917

The Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Thornaby, is an Anglican church in Thornaby, North Yorkshire, England. The structure, which is grade II* listed, is dated to the 12th century, replacing an earlier building on the same site. The church is noted for being the supposed baptismal location of Grace Pace, Captain Cook's mother.

Contents

Historically the church was known as St Mary's, but was rededicated to St Peter ad Vincula after an early twentieth century renovation. It is sometimes referred to as the Old Church of St Peter, as the newer development of South Stockton, later known as Thornaby-on-Tees, had a new church built to accommodate its growing population.

History

The Domesday Book states that Thornaby had a church in 1086, however, the current structure has been dated to the 12th century. [1] Originally dedicated to St Mary Magdalen(e), it was rededicated as St Peter ad Vincula (St Peter in Chains) after the basilica of San Pietro in Vincoli in Rome. [2] The rededication occurred in 1908, just after it underwent a major renovation. [3]

In 1495, when the church was dedicated to St Mary Magdalene, the church was tied to the priory at Guisborough. The income from the church and that of an agricultural cottage and land nearby, paid for the five lamps that lit the church and the surrounding green. The five lamps were placed there to light a shrine to St Mary (the dedication) by Robert de Thormodbi, who suffered a severe wounding during a Crusade encounter at Acre in the 13th century. [4] de Thormodbi swore that if he survived his wounding, he would build a shrine to St Mary. [5] [6]

The church is located on high ground just east of the River Tees and formed part of the ancient village of Thornaby, on what is now Thornaby Green. [7] [8] The old village of Thornaby, was centred around the church, supposedly the oldest building in the area, and a few houses built around it, with a long village green. [9] [10] The industrialisation on the Tees meant a newer settlement (originally called South Stockton), developed further north but on the south side of the river. This led to another church being built in Thornaby-on-Tees (as South Stockton was later rechristened), as the Church of St Peter could only seat 80 people. [11] [12] [note 1] St Peter's was historically described as being a chapel, or a chapel of ease as it was often within another parish. [14] [15]

A prevailing local legend states that Grace Pace, the mother of Captain Cook, was baptised in the church. [16] Whilst it its known that she was born and lived in what was the village of Thornaby, some have pointed out that at the time of her baptism, (c.1702), the church was not the mother building in the parish and most likely, baptisms, marriages and funerals were held elsewhere. [17] However, the church retains an original Norman font, so baptisms are assumed to have been undertaken at some point in the history of the church. [4]

Originally in the parish of Stainton, the church became the mother church of its own parish (Thornaby-on-Tees) in 1844, [18] but this was quite short, as by 1858, St Pauls church in Thornaby became the mother church for the parish. [19] In 1869, the 6-acre (2.4 ha) graveyard was officially opened [20] (the earliest listed burial being 1746), [21] only to close to burials in 1870. [3] However, burials still continued of those who had close relatives interred in the churchyard, so that they "might have the privilege of being buried there on their decease [sic]." [22] Some burials are listed for St Peter's up to 1905. [23]

In the 1970s, the lych gate was removed and the area around the church was landscaped which removed most of the headstones to the edges of the churchyard. [4] [24]

Architecture

The original design of the building was in the Norman Romanesque style, and the church itself consists of one single room, [10] [25] 40 feet (12 m) in length by 17 feet 6 inches (5.33 m). [26] The thickness of the outer walls vary from side to side, though some do hold evidence of pre-conquest architecture. [27] Some of the stones in the south wall show evidence of re-use; at least two have dials cut into them representing twenty-four hours. [28] The two buttresses on the east facing wall, were added in the 15th century when the church was renovated, with a bellcote, situated at the west end of the church, dating from around the same time. [28] [29] Internally, the design of the columns and the roof has crossed leaves, something which is rare in North Yorkshire, being recognised in only one other church in the area, that at St Wilfrid in South Stainley. [30] Some of the supporting columns have been dated to the 12th century. [31]

A chancel is known to have been on the eastern end of the church, but this was removed at some unknown date, and the access arch through the east side was walled up. [24] The pantile roof is modern, the original being installed (c.1908), but a more modern roof was installed c.1950. [29] A new roof is being installed over 2020 and 2021 with Welsh slate. [10] A plaque dedicated to No. 608 Squadron RAF, who were formed at RAF Thornaby in 1930, is affixed to one of the church's walls. [1]

Parish

The current Contracted minister of the church is the deacon Tom Desics, who was appointed in March 2020. [32] Previously, the church (and parish) were located in the Deanery of Cleveland. [14] It is now in the Deanery of Middlesbrough, the Archdeaconry of Cleveland, and the Diocese of York. [33]

Notes

  1. South Stockton and Thornaby were merged into one township on 6 October 1892. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Yorkshire</span> County of England

North Yorkshire is a ceremonial county in the Yorkshire and the Humber and North East regions of England. It borders County Durham to the north, the North Sea to the east, the East Riding of Yorkshire to the south-east, South Yorkshire to the south, West Yorkshire to the south-west, and Cumbria and Lancashire to the west. Northallerton is the county town.

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

Yarm, also referred to as Yarm-on-Tees, is a market town and civil parish in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England. It is in Teesdale with a town centre on a small meander of the River Tees. To the south-east, it extends to the River Leven, to the south it extends into the Kirklevington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stockton-on-Tees</span> Town in County Durham, England

Stockton-on-Tees is a market town in County Durham, England, with a population of 84,815 at the 2021 UK census. It gives its name to and is the largest settlement in the wider Borough of Stockton-on-Tees. It is part of Teesside and the Tees Valley, on the northern bank of the River Tees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Riding of Yorkshire</span> Third of a historic county in England

The North Riding of Yorkshire was a subdivision of Yorkshire, England, alongside York, the East Riding and West Riding. The riding's highest point was at Mickle Fell at 2,585 ft (788 m).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thornaby-on-Tees</span> Town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Thornaby-on-Tees, commonly referred to as Thornaby, is a town and civil parish in the North Yorkshire part of the borough of Stockton-on-Tees, England. The parish had a population of 24,741 at the 2011 census, in the Teesside built-up area. It is located on the south bank of the River Tees.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Borough of Stockton-on-Tees</span> Unitary authority area in County Durham, England

The Borough of Stockton-on-Tees is a local government district with borough status which straddles the ceremonial counties of County Durham and North Yorkshire, England. Since 1996, its council has been a unitary authority, being a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The borough had a population of 196,600 in 2021.

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

Ingleby Barwick is a town and civil parish in the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England. It is south of the River Tees and north-east of the River Leven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teesdale</span> Valley in Northern England

Teesdale is a dale, or valley, located principally in County Durham, North East England. It is one of the Durham Dales, which are themselves part of the North Pennines, the northernmost part of the Pennine uplands.

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

Loftus is a market town and civil parish in the Redcar and Cleveland borough of North Yorkshire, England. The town is located north of the North York Moors and sits between Whitby and Skelton-in-Cleveland.

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

Kirklevington is a village in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees, North Yorkshire, England. At the 2011 census, the village had a population of 809.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Bank, Redcar and Cleveland</span> Town in North Yorkshire, England

South Bank is a former industrial town in the Redcar and Cleveland borough in North Yorkshire, England on the south bank of the River Tees. It is 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Middlesbrough and 6 miles (9.7 km) south-west of Redcar. The town is served by South Bank railway station.

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

Stainton is a village in the south-west outskirts of Middlesbrough, in the Middlesbrough district, in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire, England.

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

North Stainley is a village in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England 4 miles (6.4 km) north of Ripon. Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it is the closest settlement to the theme park Lightwater Valley which is 0.62 miles (1 km) to the south.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Langbaurgh West</span> Ancient division of the North Riding, Yorkshire, England

Langbaurgh West was a division of the wapentake of Langbaurgh in the North Riding of the ancient county of Yorkshire. The area along with Langbaurgh East forms the Anglo-Saxon baronial Liberty of Cleveland and roughly covers the modern districts of Middlesbrough, the western, urbanised portion of Redcar & Cleveland, the southern portion of Stockton-on-Tees, the northern parts of Hambleton and the northern parts of the Borough of Scarborough.

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

Seamer is a village and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England, near the border with the Borough of Stockton-on-Tees and 2 miles (3 km) northwest of Stokesley. According to the 2011 census, the population of the village was 566, which North Yorkshire County Council estimated had dropped to 560 by 2015.

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

Stainton is a village and civil parish in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">County Borough of Teesside</span> Former district in northern England

The County Borough of Teesside was a county borough in the north-east of England, which existed for just six years. It was created in 1968 to cover the Teesside conurbation which had grown up around the various port and industrial towns near the mouth of the River Tees. The council was based in Middlesbrough, the area's largest town. The county borough was abolished in 1974 on the creation of the new county of Cleveland, which covered a larger area, with the county borough's territory being split between three of the four districts created in the new county. In 1971 it had a population of 396,233.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Germain's Churchyard</span> Cemetery in Yorkshire, England

St Germain's Churchyard is a large cemetery overlooking the North Sea at Marske-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England. Its church tower is a grade II listed structure at the midpoint to the yard and a landmark for sailors out on the sea. It is a remnant of a demolished church, services at St Germain's were replaced in 1876 by St Mark's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulshaw</span> A hamlet in North Yorkshire, England

Ulshaw is a hamlet on the River Ure, in the civil parish of Thornton Steward, in North Yorkshire, England, near to Middleham. The hamlet derives its name partly from the Medieval stone bridge which spans the River Ure to the immediate south of the hamlet. Ulshaw Bridge is 2.5 miles (4 km) west of Thornton Steward, and 1.25 miles (2 km) east of Middleham.

References

  1. 1 2 "Old Church of St Peter, Thornaby". riverteesrediscovered.com. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  2. "St Peter ad Vincula Church | Stockton Heritage". heritage.stockton.gov.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 Proud, Keith (2 May 2007). "Echo Memories - How Thornaby turned into a pottery town". The Northern Echo. p. 22. ISSN   2043-0442.
  4. 1 2 3 Palmer 2020, p. 57.
  5. Robson, Don (28 May 2011). "Teesside Trivia". Teesside Gazette. p. 11. ISSN   2056-6131.
  6. Lloyd, Chris (22 March 2008). "Stepping into the shadow". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  7. McCall 1911, p. 237.
  8. "Explore georeferenced maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland". maps.nls.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  9. "Chapter CO9: Thornaby Green. Conservation Area Appraisal - PDF Free Download" (PDF). stockton.gov.uk. p. 4. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  10. 1 2 3 Palmer 2020, p. 56.
  11. "Parishes: Stockton on Tees | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  12. Royle, Edward; Larsen, Ruth M (2006). Archbishop Thomson's visitation returns for the diocese of York, 1865. York: Borthwick Publications. p. 436. ISBN   978-1-904497-17-2.
  13. "How town's times have changed since the Vikings". Evening Gazette. 26 August 2014. p. 2. ISSN   2056-6131.
  14. 1 2 Lawton, George (1840). Collectio rerum ecclesiasticarum de dioecesi Eboracensi; or, Collections relative to the churches and chapels within the diocese of York: to which are added, collections relative to the churches and chapels within the diocese of Ripon. London: J G & F Rivington. p. 503. OCLC   315574175.
  15. White, William (1840). History, gazetteer, and directory, of the East and North Ridings of Yorkshire. Leeds: Baines & Newsome. p. 705. OCLC   866211545.
  16. Chapman, Hannah, ed. (2 October 2020). "£3,000 Grant backed to repair church". Darlington & Stockton Times. No. 40–2020. p. 16. ISSN   2516-5348.
  17. Horton, Minnie C. (1979). The story of Cleveland : history, anecdote, and legend. Middlesbrough: Cleveland County Libraries. p. 163. ISBN   0904784096.
  18. "Genuki: Stainton, Yorkshire (North Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  19. Wilcox, Anthony J (1998). Yorkshire: North and East Ridings and York Volume 11, Part 2 of National Index of Parish Registers: A Guide to Anglican, Roman Catholic and Non-Conformist Registers Together with Information on Bishop's Transcripts, Modern Copies and Marriage Licences, Society of Genealogists (Great Britain) National index of parish registers. London: Society of Genealogists. p. 216. ISBN   1859510876.
  20. "Genuki: THORNABY ON TEES: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1890., Yorkshire (North Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  21. McCall 1911, p. 239.
  22. "District News - Stockton-on-Tees". The York Herald. No. 5, 050. Column D. 25 September 1869. p. 10.
  23. "Parish register transcripts" (PDF). ndfhs.org.uk. p. 21. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  24. 1 2 "Chapter CO9: Thornaby Green. Conservation Area Appraisal - PDF Free Download" (PDF). stockton.gov.uk. p. 5. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  25. "Old Church of St Peter, Thornaby, Stockton on Tees | Educational Images | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  26. "Parishes: Stainton | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  27. Hayes, Raymond Harland; Spratt, D A (1995). Moorland monuments : studies in the archaeology of north-east Yorkshire in honour of Raymond Hayes and Don Spratt. York: Council for British Archaeology. p. 82. ISBN   1872414559.
  28. 1 2 McCall 1911, p. 238.
  29. 1 2 Historic England. "Old Church of St Peter, Thornaby (Grade II*) (1139917)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  30. "St Wilfrid, South Stainley, church, Yorkshire, West Riding". crsbi.ac.uk. Retrieved 12 October 2020.
  31. Lang, James (2001). Corpus of Anglo-Saxon stone sculpture in England. Oxford: Published for the British Academy by the Oxford University Press. p. 293. ISBN   0-19-726256-2.
  32. "Appointments". The Church Times. 6 March 2020. Retrieved 5 October 2020.
  33. "S. Peter ad Vincula". www.achurchnearyou.com. Retrieved 8 October 2020.

Sources