St Mary's Church, Whitby

Last updated

St Mary's Church, Whitby [1]
St.Mary's church, Whitby - geograph.org.uk - 1093039.jpg
The church, viewed from the south
North Yorkshire UK location map (2023).svg
Red pog.svg
St Mary's Church, Whitby [1]
Location in Yorkshire
54°29′20″N0°36′36″W / 54.48896°N 0.60991°W / 54.48896; -0.60991
OS grid reference NZ 903 112
Location Whitby, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Denomination Church of England
History
Status Parish church
Founded12th century
Dedication St Mary
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Heritage designation Grade I
Designated23 February 1954
Architectural type Church
Administration
Province Province of York
Diocese Diocese of York
Archdeaconry Cleveland
Deanery Whitby
Parish Whitby
Clergy
Rector Reverend Michael Gobbett

The Church of Saint Mary is an Anglican parish church serving the town of Whitby in North Yorkshire England. [2] It was founded around 1110, although its interior dates chiefly from the late 18th century. The church was designated a Grade I listed building on 23 February 1954. [3] It is situated on the town's east cliff, overlooking the mouth of the River Esk overlooking the town, close to the ruins of Whitby Abbey. Church Steps, a flight of 199 steps leads up the hill to the church from the streets below. The church graveyard is used as a setting in Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula .

Contents

Architecture

Caedmon's cross on the west side of the churchyard Memorial to Cadmon, the Father of English sacred song - geograph.org.uk - 1423456.jpg
Caedmon's cross on the west side of the churchyard

A Norman church was built on the site around 1110 and added to and altered over the centuries. The tower and transepts are from the 12th and 13th centuries. [3] The tower is square and crenellated, as are the walls. [1]

One of the oldest parts of the church is the quire which has three round-headed windows at its east end. Its side walls originally had three bays with similar windows but have been altered. It has three aumbries, one with a small piscina. The nave has five bays and is contemporary with the quire, its south wall is much altered but three external buttresses remain. When the church was enlarged in 1818 most of the north wall was removed and replaced by columns to accommodate an aisle, four large square-headed windows were inserted on the south side, the south porch was built in 1823 and a north porch built in the new annexe. The ceilings over the nave are boarded with several skylights. The transept was built in the 13th century and has three altered lancet windows in its northern arm while its southern arm is considerably changed and its windows all replaced. [4] A squint cuts through from the south transept to the quire.

The three-stage west tower has a squat appearance, its corners supported by flat buttresses and its embattled parapet is a 16th-century addition. Of its ring of eight bells, six are inscribed, "Whitby 1762 Lester and Pack of London fecit" and two were added in 1897. [4]

Interior

Memorial to General Peregrine Lascelles (1685-1772) Peregrine Lascelles epitaph CIMG6155.JPG
Memorial to General Peregrine Lascelles (1685-1772)

The nave and transept have 19th-century galleries accessed by internal and external staircases and a three-decker pulpit which was installed in 1778 and altered in 1847. [3] It retains its 18th-century box pews, some of which are inscribed, "For Strangers Only", [1] and north of the chancel arch is a Jacobean pew. There is a monument to Sir Richard Cholmley who died in 1631. [4]

The church includes a memorial to Lieutenant-General Peregrine Lascelles (1685-1772), who served in a number of 18th-century wars, including the Battle of Prestonpans in Scotland in 1745. [5]

Threat from cliff erosion

Two significant land slips due to broken drainage and torrential rain, the first occurring in November 2012, have placed the churchyard, and properties below the cliff, in significant jeopardy. [6] Whitby town councillor Steve Smith stated the church was in no danger, having been built on solid rock. Human remains have fallen onto the street below, and pathways on the cliff-side of the church have been closed. [7]

Bram Stoker used St Mary's Church graveyard as the setting for a scene in his novel, Dracula: [1]

For a moment or two I could see nothing, as the shadow of a cloud obscured St. Mary's Church. Then as the cloud passed I could see the ruins of the Abbey coming into view; and as the edge of a narrow band of light as sharp as a sword-cut moved along, the church and churchyard became gradually visible... It seemed to me as though something dark stood behind the seat where the white figure shone, and bent over it. What it was, whether man or beast, I could not tell.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sherborne Abbey</span> Church in Dorset, England

Sherborne Abbey, otherwise the Abbey Church of St. Mary the Virgin, is a Church of England church in Sherborne in the English county of Dorset. It has been a Saxon cathedral (705–1075), a Benedictine abbey church (998–1539), and since 1539, a parish church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary Redcliffe</span> Church in Bristol, England

The Church of St Mary the Virgin, widely known as St Mary Redcliffe, is the main Church of England parish church for the Redcliffe district of the city of Bristol, England. The first reference to a church on the site appears in 1158, with the present building dating from 1185 to 1872. The church is considered one of the country's finest and largest parish churches as well as an outstanding example of English Gothic architecture. The church is so large it is sometimes mistaken for Bristol Cathedral by tourists. The building has Grade I listed status, the highest possible category, by Historic England.

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

Whitby Abbey was a 7th-century Christian monastery that later became a Benedictine abbey. The abbey church was situated overlooking the North Sea on the East Cliff above Whitby in North Yorkshire, England, a centre of the medieval Northumbrian kingdom. The abbey and its possessions were confiscated by the crown under Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries between 1536 and 1545.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rochester Cathedral</span> Church in Kent, England

Rochester Cathedral, formally the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is in Rochester, Kent, England. The cathedral is the mother church of the Anglican Diocese of Rochester and seat (cathedra) of the Bishop of Rochester, the second oldest bishopric in England after that of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The cathedral, built in the Norman style is a Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary & St Nicholas, Leatherhead</span> Church

The Church of St Mary & St Nicholas is an Anglican parish church in Leatherhead, Surrey, England. Dating originally to around the 11th century, it remains a place of worship to this day. It is a Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English Gothic architecture</span> Architectural style in Britain

English Gothic is an architectural style that flourished from the late 12th until the mid-17th century. The style was most prominently used in the construction of cathedrals and churches. Gothic architecture's defining features are pointed arches, rib vaults, buttresses, and extensive use of stained glass. Combined, these features allowed the creation of buildings of unprecedented height and grandeur, filled with light from large stained glass windows. Important examples include Westminster Abbey, Canterbury Cathedral and Salisbury Cathedral. The Gothic style endured in England much longer than in Continental Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bowdon</span> Church in Greater Manchester, England

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is in the village of Bowdon near Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Macclesfield and the deanery of Bowdon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Michael's and All Angels Church, Guiting Power</span> Church in Gloucestershire, England

St Michael's and All Angels Church is in the village of Guiting Power, Gloucestershire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Stow, the archdeaconry of Cheltenham and the diocese of Gloucester. Its benefice is combined with those of St Faith, Farmcote, St Mary, Lower Slaughter, St Andrew, Naunton, St Mary, Temple Guiting, St James, Cutsdean, and St Peter, Upper Slaughter. The church contains fabric dating from the 12th century and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It formerly stood in the centre of the village, but the demolition of buildings since 1900 has left it standing at the village's southern end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St James' Church, Longborough</span> Church in Gloucestershire, England

St James' Church is the Church of England parish church of Longborough, Gloucestershire, England. It is in the deanery of Stow, the archdeaconry of Cheltenham and the diocese of Gloucester. Its benefice is combined with those of St David, Moreton-in-Marsh, St Mary, Batsford, St Thomas of Canterbury, Todenham, and St Leonard, Lower Lemington. It contains fabric from the 12th century and is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints Church, Chadshunt</span> Church in Warwickshire, England

All Saints Church is a redundant Anglican church in the parish of Chadshunt, Warwickshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It stands by the side of the road from Kineton to Southam. Its general appearance is "long, low and massive".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All Saints Church, Kedleston</span> Church in Derbyshire, England

All Saints' Church, Kedleston, is a redundant Anglican Church located 4 miles north-west of Derby in Derbyshire, England. It is all that remains of the medieval village of Kedleston, which was demolished in 1759 by Nathaniel Curzon to make way for the adjacent Kedleston Hall, a country house in Derbyshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. Kedleston Hall is owned by the National Trust, and the church is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Kedleston Hall has been occupied by the Curzon family for over 700 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Little Washbourne</span> Church in Gloucestershire, England

St Mary's Church, is a historic Anglican church at Little Washbourne in the civil parish of Dumbleton, Gloucestershire, England under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Bartholomew's Church, Richard's Castle</span> Church in Herefordshire, England

St Bartholomew's Church is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Richard's Castle, Herefordshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It stands close to the castle of the same name as the village, which was built to command this part of the Welsh Marches. The village is partly in Shropshire and the county boundary is not far from the church.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Peter ad Vincula, Colemore</span> Church in Hampshire, England

The Church of St Peter ad Vincula is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Colemore, Hampshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. Colemore is located some 6 miles (10 km) south of Alton to the east of the A32 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Hartley Wintney</span> Church in Hampshire, England

St Mary's Church is a redundant Anglican church in the village of Hartley Wintney, Hampshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. The church stands on a hillside to the south of the village, some 8 miles (13 km) east of Basingstoke.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Laurence's Church, Chorley</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Laurence's Church is in Union Street, Chorley, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Chorley, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Columba's Church, Warcop</span> Church in Cumbria, England

St Columba's Church is in the village of Warcop, Cumbria, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Appleby, the archdeaconry of Carlisle, and the diocese of Carlisle. Its benefice is united with St Theobald, Musgrave. and nine other parishes to form the Heart of Eden benefice. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building. On Saint Peter's Day, 29 June, each year the church hosts a rushbearing ceremony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Acton Burnell</span> Church in Shropshire, England

St Mary's Church is in the village of Acton Burnell, Shropshire, England, and stands near the ruins of Acton Burnell Castle. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Condover, the archdeaconry of Ludlow, and the diocese of Hereford. Its benefice is united with those of St Andrew and St Mary, Condover, St Mark, Frodesley, and St Michael and All Angels, Pitchford. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Presbytery and Convent, Little Crosby</span> Church in Merseyside, England

St. Mary's Church, Presbytery and Convent are in Back Lane, Little Crosby, Sefton, Merseyside, England. The church is an active Roman Catholic parish church in the diocese of Liverpool which was built in 1845–47. The presbytery and convent were both built in the 18th century, and altered in the 19th century. The convent originated as a chapel, and has since been converted into a private dwelling. Both the church and the former convent with its attached presbytery are recorded in the National Heritage List for England as designated Grade II listed buildings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitby 199 steps</span> Grade I listed structure in North Yorkshire, England

The Whitby 199 steps, is a grade I listed structure between the Old Town and St Mary's Church, in Whitby, North Yorkshire, England. The 199 steps have been recorded since at least 1370, and until the 1770s, were made of wood. The flight of steps was viewed as a measure of the Christian determination of pilgrims up to Whitby Abbey, and have also served as a tourist attraction being mentioned in the book Dracula, by Bram Stoker.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "St Mary's Church, Whitby". England Sacred sited. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  2. ↑ "St Mary, Whitby". The Church of England. Retrieved 10 June 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Historic England. "Parish Church of St Mary (1055865)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  4. 1 2 3 Page, William, ed. (1923). Parishes: Whitby. A History of the County of York North Riding: Volume 2 (Victoria County History). British History Online. pp. 506–528. Retrieved 22 August 2023.
  5. ↑ "Whitby". Senchus. Retrieved 6 February 2019.
  6. ↑ Wainwright, Martin (9 January 2013). "* News * UK news Whitby church under threat from landslips". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
  7. ↑ "Whitby landslip exposes human bones at 'Dracula graveyard'". BBC News. BBC. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
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.