St. Mary's Church, Nottingham

Parish church
name = St. Mary's Church


caption = St. Mary's Church Nottingham
dedication =
denomination = Church of England
tradition = Book of Common Prayer / Broad Church
diocese = Southwell and Nottingham
province = Province of York
vicar = vacant
curate = Revd. Stephen Morris
curate1 =
organistdom = John Anthony Keys
organist =
warden =
warden1 =
website = [http://www.stmarysnottingham.org/ www.stmarysnottingham.org]

The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest religious foundation in the City of Nottingham, England, and is also the largest church after the Roman Catholic Cathedral.

The church is Grade I listed by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport as a building of outstanding architectural or historic interest.

It is situated at the heart of the historic Lace Market district and is also known as "St Mary's in the Lace Market". It is a Grade I listed building and a member of the Greater Churches Group.

It is part of the parish of All Saints', St. Mary's and St. Peter's, Nottingham.

History

The church is mentioned in the Domesday Book and is believed to go back deep into Saxon times. The main body of the present building (at least the third on the site) dates from the end of the reign of Edward III (1377) to that of Henry VII (1485-1509). The nave was finished before 1475 and it is notable for its uniformity of gothic perpendicular style. It is likely that the south aisle wall was the first part of the building to be constructed in the early 1380s, with the remainder of the nave and transepts being from the early 1400s. The tower was completed in the reign of Henry VIII.The church was owned by Lenton Priory from 1108 to 1538 and the monks took the living of the church as Rector, and appointed a Vicar to perform the daily offices.

The church has a fine collection of late Victorian stained glass windows by many famous makers, including Kempe, Burlison & Grylls and Hardman & Co.

It is also known for its mediæval font with a palindromic Greek inscription NIΨONANOMHMATAMHMONANOΨIN (Wash my transgressions, not only my face), and a rather battered alabaster tomb fragment which portrays a lily crucifix and a Nottingham Alabaster panel depicting Archbishop Thomas Becket.

Internal dimensions are
* from west to east
* from north to south (across the transepts).

The tower stands convert|126|ft|m above ground level.

Restorations

*1726 West front rebuilt by Hiorne of Warwick in the Classical style.
*c1818-20 South aisle restored and crossing vault replaced by William Stretton.
*1843 Tower saved from collapse by Lewis Nockalls Cottingham.
*1844-1848 Five year restoration of roofs and west front returned to gothic style by George Gilbert Scott (church closed).
*1848-1860s Internal restoration by George Gilbert Scott and William Bonython Moffatt.
*1872 Chancel reroofed by George Gilbert Scott.
*1890 The Chapter House was built by George Frederick Bodley.
*1912 The Lady Chapel added by Temple Lushington Moore.
*1935 Tower ringing room floor concreted and new bell frame
*1940 The Simpson memorial choir vestry added.
*1992-93 Exterior fabric restored and cleaned.
*2008 New kitchens and toilet facilities.

The Church today

St Mary's has a wide ministry to many different groups. It is the Civic Church to the City of Nottingham. In the past, the election of the town mayor took place in the church and this tradition continues with a welcome to the new Lord Mayor of Nottingham in a service held each summer.

It is the University Church for the University of Nottingham and several schools and organisations hold annual services here.

In recent years, in addition to its function as a place of worship, St Mary's is the venue for a wide range of concerts and public performances, and is home to the Nottingham Bach Choir.

The assistant curate at St Mary's takes the ancient title 'Lecturer', the post is currently held by Revd. Stephen Morris.

The church retains the Book of Common Prayer, the traditional Liturgical colours and the principal services are sung by a robed choir.

St. Mary's retains the historic practice of celebrating the Eucharist at a High Altar with priest and people facing eastwards, rather than the contemporary practice of having the priest at the centre of the celebration facing the congregation.

The Chantry door

The chantry door is considered to be the oldest surviving door in Nottingham, dating from the 1370s or 1380s. it contains an example of iron work from the medieval period in the locking mechanism.

The chantry room has latterly been used as a bonehouse, a coal store, and a chair store.

The survival of the door is likely to be due to the fact that it has not been heavily used, and is internal within the church.

List of vicars

* 1086 Aitard
* 1228 Thomas de Punignal
* c1235 Nicholas (? of Ostia)
* c1250 Philip de Norhamptone
* c1266 William de Birley
* c1279 Robert de Adinburg
* 1289 Richard de Notingham
* 1290 John de Ely
* 1304 Robert de Dalby
* 1313 Henry de Parva Halam
* 1317 John de Ludham
* 1322 John fil William Cosyn
* 1347 John de la Launde
* 1347 Robert de Wakebrigge
* 1348 Richard de Radclyff
* 1348 Roger de Nydingworth
* 1349 Richard de Swanyngton
* 1351 Thomas Pascayl
* 1357 John Chatarez
* 1357 John Lorymer, of Hoveden
* 1364 John de Stapleford
* 1371 William de Sandyacre
* 1374 Robert de Retford
* 1401 Richard de Chilwell
* 1409 William Ode
* 1442 William Wryght
* 1461 John Hurt, S.T.D.
* 1476 Thomas Turner, M.A.
* 1498 John Greve, S.T.B.
* 1499 Symeon Yates, Dec. B.
* 1504 Richard Taverner LL.B.
* 1534 Richard Mathew, Dec.B.
* 1535 Richard Wylde, M.A.
* 1554 Oliver Hawood
* 1568 John Lowthe, LL.B.
* 1572 William Underne
* 1578 Robert Aldridge
* 1616 Oliver Wytherington, M.A.
* 1616 John Tolson, S.T.B.
* 1617 Ralph Hansby, M.A.
* 1635 Edmund Lacock, B.D.
* 1645 William Howitt
* 1647/8 Nicholas Folkingham
* 1649 Jonathan Boole
* 1651 John Whitlock M.A. and William Reynolds, M.A.
* 1662 George Masterson, M.A.
* 1686 Samuel Crowborough, D.D.
* 1690 Benjamin Camfield, M.A.
* 1694 Timothy Caryl, M.A.
* 1698 Edward Clarke, M.A.
* 1708 Samuel Berdmore, M.A.
* 1723 John Disney, M.A.
* 1730 Thomas Berdmore, M.A.
* 1743 Scrope Berdmore, D.D.
* 1770 Nathan Haines D.D.
* 1806 John Bristow, D.D.
* 1810 George Hutchinson, M.A.
* 1817 George Wilkins, D.D.
* 1843 Joshua William Brooks, M.A.
* 1864 Francis Morse, M.A.
* 1886 John Gray Richardson, M.A.
* 1900 Arthur Hamilton Baynes, D.D., Bp.
* 1913 Thomas Field, D.D.
* 1926 James Geoffrey Gordon, M.A.
* 1933 Neville Stuart Talbot, D.D., Bp.
* 1943 Robert Henry Hawkins, M.A.
* 1958 Douglas Russell Feaver, M.A.
* 1973 Michael James Jackson, M.A.
* 1991 James Edward McKenzie Neale, B.A.
* 2004 Andrew Gilchrist Deuchar B.Th (Priest in charge)

Laying on of hands

It was at St. Mary's that the practice of laying on of hands by a Bishop during a Confirmation service was first observed. This was done by John VII Gilbert Archbishop of York.

Vicarage

The vicarage of St. Mary's was formerly on High Pavement, but with the increasing industrialisation of the Lace Market at the end of the nineteenth century, the church purchased a new residence opposite the castle gatehouse. This was used as St. Mary's Vicarage until Canon Eddie Neale retired in 2003.

The future of St. Mary's Vicarage is now in the hands of the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham.

The adjoining property is the rectory for St. Peter's Church, Nottingham.

Notable burials in St Mary's

* John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare 1637
* John Holles, 2nd Earl of Clare 1666
* Eleanor Fitzwilliam, Countess of Tyrconnell, 1681, daughter of John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare
* Lady Jane, Dowager Countess of Valentia 1683/4, widow of Francis Annesley, 1st Viscount Valentia, daughter of Sir John Stanhope.
* Chambre Brabazon, 5th Earl of Meath 1715
* Lady Mary Brabazon, daughter of Chambre Brabazon, 5th Earl of Meath 1737
* Thomas Berdmore, dentist to King George III 1785
* George Africanus 1834

Bells

There are twelve bells in the ring.

* Treble "Eijsbouts Astensis me fecit Anno MCMLXXX". The Society of Sherwood Youths gave me. "Their sound is gone forth unto all lands". Canon M.J. Jackson, Vicar, S. Yarnell and E. Mottram, Churchwardens. (E) Eayre and Smith.
* 2nd "Eijsbouts Astensis me fecit Anno MCMLXXX". The Parochial Church Council gave me. "God is gone up with a merry noise". Canon M.J. Jackson, Vicar, S. Yarnell and E. Mottram, Churchwardens. (E) Eayre and Smith.
* 3rd C. & G. Mears, Founders, London, Recast 1856. J.W. Brooks, Vicar. W. Dearden, J. Coope, Churchwardens. Recast Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.
* 4th Raised by Scrope Beardsmore, Vicar DD. Richd Lambert and John Wyer, Churchwardens. The Hon'able Wm. Howe & John Plumtree Esqrs - Members for the Town Subscription, 1761. Lester & Pack Fecit. Recast, Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.
* 5th By Subscription. Revd. Scrope Beardsmore DD. Vicar. G. Browne, H. Ward, J. Burgess Ch. Wardens. 1765. "Sodales Musici Nottinghamiensis Restaureverunt". Lester & Pack of London Fecit. Recast Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.
* 6th By Subscription Revd. Scrope Beardsmore DD. Vicar. G. Browne, H. Ward, J. Burgess Ch. Wardens. 1765. "Intactum Sileo Percute, Dulce Cano". Lester & Pack of London Fecit. Recast Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.
* 7th "Sustio Voce Pios Tu Iesu Dirige Mentes Venite Exvitimus". (I. Edwards, I. Sweetaple. Churchwardens 1699. Recast Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.
* 8th Robert Aldredg, Vicar, Ralphe Shaw, Henrie Allvie, Wardens. 1613. Recast Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.
* 9th "Hee Campana Sacra Filet Trinitate Beata". W. Sturrup, T. Graye. Wardens. 1690. Recast Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.
* 10th "In noe ihu xpi ome genu fleetat celestm trestriu et infroru". R.A.V. M.G. 1605. W.L. Recast Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.
* 11th "Tu Tuba Sic Sonitu Domini Conduco cohortes". Richard Hunte Major, Nicholas Sherwyn, Richard Iohnson, Iohn Gregorie, Robert Alvie, Peter Clarke, Humfrey Bonner, Richard Morehaghe, Anker Jackson, Aldermen, 1595. Also four impressions of the coat of arms of Elizabeth I alternating with four signs of the Henry Oldfield foundry.
* Tenor Revd. Scrope Beardsmore DD. Vicar. G. Browne, H. Ward, I. Burgess, Ch. Wardens. 1765. "I will sound and resound unto thy people, O Lord, With my sweet voice, and call them to thy word, I tole the tune that douleful is to such as live amiss, But sweet my sound seems unto them who hope for joyful Bliss." Lester & Pack of London Fecit. Recast Gillett & Johnston, Croydon, 1935.

Music

St Mary's has a choir of some standing. Under the leadership of John Keys, the Choir of St Mary’s is regarded as one of the county’s finest.

There are three choral services a week – Wednesday Evensong, Sunday Eucharist and Sunday Evensong.

Renowned for its versatility and wide repertoire it performs music from plainsong through to world premieres, performs regularly in concert on its own and with St Mary’s resident orchestra, The Orchestra of the Restoration. Organ and Choral Scholarships are available to students in full-time higher education.

Organ

The Organ is by Marcussen and Søn of Denmark and was installed in 1973. It has 25 speaking stops and is a very small organ for a church of this size.

[http://npor.emma.cam.ac.uk/cgi-bin/Rsearch.cgi?Fn=Rsearch&rec_index=N08469 Link to details of the organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.]

Organists

There are records of organs in the church in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, but no record of any of the organists from this period has been found.

ee also

* All Saints' Church, Nottingham
* St. Peter's Church, Nottingham

List of Greater Churches

There are currently 19 churches within the Greater Churches Group:

External links

* [http://www.stmarysnottingham.org/ Official website]
* [http://www.stmaryschoirnottingham.com/ Choir website]
* [http://www.nottingham21.co.uk/build_stmary_thumbnail.htm Pictures of St. Mary's from Nottingham21]