The Church of St Mary the Virgin is the oldest

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the Church (building), church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in com ...

Domesday Book: A Complete Translation (Penguin Classics) of

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...

, in

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated ''Notts.'') is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. The county is bordered by South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. Th ...

, England. The church is

Grade I listed In the United Kingdom, a listed building is a structure of particular architectural or historic interest deserving of special protection. Such buildings are placed on one of the four statutory lists maintained by Historic England in England, Hi ...

by the

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is a ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom. It holds the responsibility for culture and sport, and some aspects of the media throughout the UK, such as broadcasting. I ...

as a building of outstanding architectural or historic interest. It is one of only five Grade I listed buildings in the City of Nottingham. It is situated on High Pavement at the heart of the historic Lace Market district and is also known as St Mary's in the Lace Market. It is a member of the Major Churches Network.

History

The church is mentioned in the

Domesday Book Domesday Book ( ; the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book") is a manuscript record of the Great Survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 at the behest of William the Conqueror. The manuscript was originally known by ...

of 1086 and is believed to date back to the 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 Edward III (13 November 1312 – 21 June 1377), also known as Edward of Windsor before his accession, was King of England from January 1327 until his death in 1377. He is noted for his military success and for restoring royal authority after t ...

(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 15th century. The tower was completed in the reign of

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

. 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 A vicar (; Latin: '' vicarius'') is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior (compare "vicarious" in the sense of "at second hand"). Linguistically, ''vicar'' is cognate with the English p ...

to perform the daily offices. In 1513, a school was founded in the church by Dame Agnes Mellers as ''The Free School of the Town of Nottingham''. This is now

Nottingham High School Nottingham High School is a Private schools in the United Kingdom, private fee-charging day school for boys and girls in Nottingham, England, with an infant and junior school (ages 4–11) and senior school (ages 11–18). There were 1177 stu ...

. In the Foundation Deed, Mellers provided that a Commemoration Service should be held in the church "on the Feast of The Translation of St Richard of Chichester". With the exception of the

Goose Fair The Nottingham Goose Fair is an annual travelling funfair held at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham, England, during the first week of October. Largely provided by travelling Showmen, it is one of four established fairs in the United K ...

, it is the most ancient ceremonial event still perpetuated in the City of Nottingham.

George Fox George Fox (July 1624 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S. – 13 January 1691 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.) was an English Dissenters, English Dissenter, who was a founder of the Quakers, Religious Society of Friends, commonly known as t ...

founder of the

Religious Society of Friends Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations. Members refer to each other as Friends after in the Bible, and originally, others referred to them as Quakers ...

, commonly known as the Quakers or Friends, was imprisoned in Nottingham in 1649 after interrupting the preacher at St Mary's. Nottingham Bluecoat School was founded in 1706, and the first lessons were taught in the porch of the church. For several years from 1716, the church was used to house the town fire engine. It was kept at the west end, and was still there until at least 1770. St Mary's opened a

workhouse In Britain and Ireland, a workhouse (, lit. "poor-house") was a total institution where those unable to support themselves financially were offered accommodation and employment. In Scotland, they were usually known as Scottish poorhouse, poorh ...

in 1726 at the south end of Mansfield Road and ran it until 1834 when responsibility for workhouses was transferred from parishes to secular Boards of Guardians. The workhouse was demolished in 1895 to clear part of the site needed for the construction of the

Nottingham Victoria railway station Nottingham Victoria railway station was a Great Central Railway and Great Northern Railway (Great Britain), Great Northern Railway railway station in Nottingham, England. It was designed by the architect Albert Edward Lambert, who also designed ...

. The church was closed for 5 years from 1843 for a major restoration. It re-opened on 19 May 1848 when the

Bishop of Lincoln The Bishop of Lincoln is the Ordinary (officer), ordinary (diocesan bishop) of the Church of England Diocese of Lincoln in the Province of Canterbury. The present diocese covers the county of Lincolnshire and the unitary authority areas of Nort ...

John Kaye presided.

First Sunday School

St Mary's pioneered

Sunday School ] A Sunday school, sometimes known as a Sabbath school, is an educational institution, usually Christianity, Christian in character and intended for children or neophytes. Sunday school classes usually precede a Sunday church service and are u ...

education for those children unable to attend a day school. Pupils were taught reading, writing and arithmetic, as well as religious knowledge. The first Sunday School was opened in 1751, 35 years before the generally acknowledged first Sunday School was founded in Gloucester by Robert Raikes.

New parishes created from St Mary's

*1822: St Paul's Church, George Street, Nottingham, built as a chapel of ease *1841: Holy Trinity Church, Trinity Square *1844: St John the Baptist's Church, Leenside (destroyed by enemy action in May 1941) *1856: St Mark's Church, Nottingham *1856: St Matthew's Church, Talbot Street *1863: St Ann's Church, Nottingham, with St Andrew's created out of this parish, in 1871 *1863: St Luke's Church, Nottingham *1863: St Saviour's, Arkwright Street *1864: All Saints', Raleigh Street, as a chapel of ease *1881: Emmanuel Church, Woodborough Road, in 1885 *1888: St Catharine's, St Ann's Well Road, out of the parishes of St Mary, St Mark, St Luke and St Paul *1903: St Bartholomew's Church, Blue Bell Hill Road

Restorations

*1762: West front rebuilt by William 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 Lewis Nockalls Cottingham (1787 – 13 October 1847) was a British architect who pioneered the study of Medieval Gothic architecture. He was a restorer and conservator of existing buildings. He set up a Museum of Medieval Art in Waterloo Road, Lon ...

. *1844–1848: Five-year restoration of roofs and west front returned to gothic style by

George Gilbert Scott Sir George Gilbert Scott (13 July 1811 – 27 March 1878), largely known as Sir Gilbert Scott, was a prolific English Gothic Revival architect, chiefly associated with the design, building and renovation of churches and cathedrals, although he ...

(church closed) at a cost of £9,000 (), *1848–1860s: Internal restoration by

and William Bonython Moffatt. *1872: Chancel reroofed by

. *1890: The Chapter House was built by

George Frederick Bodley George Frederick Bodley (14 March 182721 October 1907) was an English Gothic Revival architect. He was a pupil of Sir George Gilbert Scott and worked with C. E. Kempe. He was in partnership with Thomas Garner for much of his career and was ...

. *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. *2013: Removal of the wooden flooring platforms, installation of underfloor heating and new stone floor. *2024: Repair of the South Transept, installation of a servery and new west porch.

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. It now contains a toilet for wheelchair users. 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. File:StMarysNottinghamChantryDoor1.JPG, View of the old exterior of the Chantry door File:StMarysNottinghamChantryDoor2.JPG, View of the Chantry door from the north aisle

List of vicars

Source: * 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 Louth, 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) * 2009 Christopher Dennis Harrison B.A. (Priest in charge, appointed Vicar 2011) * 2018 Thomas Alan Gillum B.Sc. * 2024 James Benedict John Saunders Ph.D.

Laying on of hands

It was at St Mary's that the practice of

laying on of hands The laying on of hands is a religious practice. In Judaism, ''semikhah'' (, "leaning f the hands) accompanies the conferring of a blessing or authority. In Christianity, Christian churches, chirotony. is used as both a symbolic and formal met ...

by the Bishop during a

confirmation In Christian denominations that practice infant baptism, confirmation is seen as the sealing of the covenant (religion), covenant created in baptism. Those being confirmed are known as confirmands. The ceremony typically involves laying on o ...

service was first observed ca. 1760 and documented by Thomas Newton, Bishop of Bristol. It was performed by John Gilbert,

Archbishop of York The archbishop of York is a senior bishop in the Church of England, second only to the archbishop of Canterbury. The archbishop is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and the metropolitan bishop of the province of York, which covers the ...

Features

Bronze doors

The bronze doors were designed in 1904 by

Henry Wilson Henry Wilson (born Jeremiah Jones Colbath; February 16, 1812 – November 22, 1875) was the 18th vice president of the United States, serving from 1873 until his death in 1875, and a United States Senate, senator from Massachusetts from 1855 to ...

in memory of his father-in-law, Rev. Francis Morse. The intention of the design of the doors is to illustrate the Life of Our Lord in its relation with the Holy Mother to whom the church is dedicated and by the general treatment to suggest the idea of pity. In the tympanum enclosed within a vesica the Holy Mother supports and cherishes the body of Christ, while in the spandrels, on either side, the gates of Death and Life are suggested: the Dove, typifying the spirit, enters weary into the one and issues strong-winged from the other, thus symbolising the unending round of Death and Life. The dedicatory inscription "In loving memory of Francis Morse, 1818–1886, Father, Pastor, Friend" in the form of a pierced cresting, divides the tympanum from the doors themselves. These are formed into panels by mouldings of beaten bronze, with angel bosses at the intersections. On each leaf of the door are five panels, in relief, illustrating the Life of Our Lord, the subjects on the left leaf being "The Annunciation", with Gabriel appearing at the Virgin's window in the early morning; "The Visitation", with the Virgin running to meet her kinswoman. Below these come "The Nativity", followed by "The Epiphany", and the lowest panel shows the Salvator Mundi on a Cross of branching vine. At the foot of the Cross stand Adam and Eve, conscious of the fall, while the doves of peace and pardon hover overhead. The subjects of the panels on the right door of the leaf are "The flight into Egypt"; "The Baptism in the Jordan"; "The entry into Jerusalem"; The three Maries at the Sepulchre"; and "The Resurrection". In this panel the Saviour is shown emerging from the tomb and while still bound with the grave clothes, the Spirit of Life, in the form of a Dove, flies to His breast, and overhead the birds sing at the coming of a new Dawn.

Other features

The church has a fine collection of late Victorian

stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...

windows by many famous makers, including Kempe, Burlison and Grylls and Hardman & Co. The reredos above the altar is by the artist Charles Edgar Buckeridge. It is also known for its octagonal mediaeval font with a

palindromic A palindrome ( /ˈpæl.ɪn.droʊm/) is a word, number, phrase, or other sequence of symbols that reads the same backwards as forwards, such as ''madam'' or '' racecar'', the date " 02/02/2020" and the sentence: "A man, a plan, a canal – Pana ...

Greek inscription ΝΙΨΟΝΑΝΟΜΗΜΑΤΑΜΗΜΟΝΑΝΟΨΙΝ (Wash my transgressions, not only my face), and a rather battered

alabaster Alabaster is a mineral and a soft Rock (geology), rock used for carvings and as a source of plaster powder. Archaeologists, geologists, and the stone industry have different definitions for the word ''alabaster''. In archaeology, the term ''alab ...

tomb fragment which portrays a lily crucifix and a Nottingham alabaster panel depicting Archbishop

Thomas Becket Thomas Becket (), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London and later Thomas à Becket (21 December 1119 or 1120 – 29 December 1170), served as Lord Chancellor from 1155 to 1162, and then as Archbishop of Canterbury fr ...

The church today

St Mary's internal dimensions are * from west to east * from north to south (across the

transepts A transept (with two semitransepts) is a transverse part of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In cruciform ("cross-shaped") churches, in particular within the Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architectu ...

) while the tower stands above ground level. The church has a wide ministry to many different groups. It is the Civic Church to the City of

. In the past, the election of the town mayor took place in the church. It is the University Church for the

University of Nottingham The University of Nottingham is a public research university in Nottingham, England. It was founded as University College Nottingham in 1881, and was granted a royal charter in 1948. Nottingham's main campus (University Park Campus, Nottingh ...

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. Historically, the assistant curate at St Mary's takes the ancient title 'Lecturer'. This title, which fell into disuse in the 17th century, was revived for Rev. John Pennington on his appointment in 1975. This post is currently vacant. The church retains the traditional

liturgical colours Liturgical colours are specific colours used for vestments and hangings within the context of Christian liturgy. The symbolism of violet, blue, white, green, red, gold, black, rose, and other colours may serve to underline moods appropriate to ...

and the principal services are sung by a robed choir. Services are conducted using both the

Book of Common Prayer The ''Book of Common Prayer'' (BCP) is the title given to a number of related prayer books used in the Anglican Communion and by other Christianity, Christian churches historically related to Anglicanism. The Book of Common Prayer (1549), fi ...

and

Common Worship ''Common Worship'' is the name given to the series of services authorised by the General Synod of the Church of England and launched on the first Sunday of Advent in 2000. It represents the most recent stage of development of the Liturgical M ...

. St Mary's sometimes retains the historic practice of celebrating the Eucharist at a High Altar ''

Ad orientem ''Ad orientem'', meaning 'to the east' in Ecclesiastical Latin, is a phrase used to describe the eastward orientation of Christian prayer and Christian worship, comprising the preposition ''ad'' (toward) and ''oriens'' (rising, sunrise, east), p ...

'' with priest and people facing eastwards, rather than the contemporary practice of ''

Versus populum ''Versus populum'' (Latin for "towards the people") is the liturgy, liturgical stance of a priest who, while celebrating Mass (liturgy), Mass, faces the people from the other side of the altar. The opposite stance, that of a priest facing in the ...

'' having the priest facing the congregation. File:St Mary's Church, Nottingham - 2.JPG, Interior view looking west from the sanctuary File:St Mary's Church, Nottingham - 1.JPG, Interior view looking north east from the south porch File:St Mary's Church, Nottingham - Organ.JPG, Interior view looking south east from the north aisle with the organ by Marcussen & Søn

Vicarage

The

vicarage A clergy house is the residence, or former residence, of one or more priests or Minister (Christianity), ministers of a given religion, serving as both a home and a base for the occupant's ministry. Residences of this type can have a variety of n ...

of St Mary's was formerly at Washington House on High Pavement, but with the increasing industrialisation of the Lace Market at the end of the 19th 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 adjoining property was the

rectory A clergy house is the residence, or former residence, of one or more priests or ministers of a given religion, serving as both a home and a base for the occupant's ministry. Residences of this type can have a variety of names, such as manse, p ...

for St Peter's Church, Nottingham. A parish house has now been purchased in

The Park Estate The Park Estate is a private residential housing estate to the west of Nottingham city centre, England. It is noted for its Victorian architecture, although many of the houses have been altered, extended or converted into Apartment, flats. The e ...

Notable burials in St Mary's

* John Samon, Mayor of Nottingham, 1416 * Thomas Thurland, Mayor of Nottingham, 1473 *

John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare John Holles, 1st Earl of Clare (May 1564 – 4 October 1637) was an English nobleman. He was the son of Denzil Holles of Irby upon Humber and Eleanor Sheffield (daughter of Edmund Sheffield, 1st Baron Sheffield of Butterwick). His great-grand ...

, 1637 * John Holles, 2nd Earl of Clare, 1666 * Eleanor Fitzwilliam, Countess of Tyrconnell, 1681, daughter of

* 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 Chambre (French for ''chamber'') may refer to: * Chambre des Pairs * Chambre des Députés * Chambre de bonne * Chambre introuvable * Valet de chambre * Chambre Ardente People with the surname * Alan Chambré * Calcot Chambre See also ...

, 1715 * Lady Mary Brabazon, daughter of

, 1737 * Thomas Berdmore, dentist to King

George III George III (George William Frederick; 4 June 173829 January 1820) was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland, Ireland from 25 October 1760 until his death in 1820. The Acts of Union 1800 unified Kingdom of Great Britain, Great Britain and ...

, 1785 *

George Africanus George John Scipio Africanus (c. 1763 – 19 May 1834) was a West African former slave who became a successful entrepreneur in Nottingham, England. Early years The early life of George Africanus is obscure. Calculating his birth year from his ...

, 1834 * Robert Aldridge, Vicar of St Mary's (1598–1616)

Notable marriages in the church

* George James Bruere, later

Governor of Bermuda The governor of Bermuda (officially Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Somers Isles (alias the Islands of Bermuda)) is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territory of Bermuda. For the purposes of this arti ...

, 1743 * Alexander Manson MD, pioneer in the use of iodine in medicine, 1814.

Bells and clock

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 Gillett & Johnston was a clockmaker and bell foundry based in Croydon, England from 1844 until 1957. Between 1844 and 1950, over 14,000 tower clocks were made at the works. The company's most successful and prominent period of activity as a be ...

, 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,

, 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

, 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

, Croydon, 1935. * 7th . (I. Edwards, I. Sweetaple. Churchwardens 1699. Recast

, Croydon, 1935. * 8th Robert Aldredg, Vicar, Ralphe Shaw, Henrie Allvie, Wardens. 1613. Recast

, Croydon, 1935. * 9th ''Hee Campana Sacra Filet Trinitate Beata''. W. Sturrup, T. Graye. Wardens. 1690. Recast

, Croydon, 1935. * 10th . R.A.V. M.G. 1605. W.L. Recast

, Croydon, 1935. * 11th . 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 is to such as live amiss, But sweet my sound seems unto them who hope for joyful Bliss.'' Lester & Pack of London Fecit. Recast

, Croydon, 1935. The first record of a tower clock dates from 1707 when a clock was installed by Richard Roe of Epperstone. This was replaced in 1807 by a clock by Thomas Hardy of Nottingham. The 1707 clock was moved to Staunton church. The most recent tower clock which dates from 1936 was installed by George & Francis Cope. It was the first electric auto-wind clock by that firm. In May 2022, the bell tower walls were identified as needing structural repair due to loads thrust upon the supporting timbers by the swinging action of the bells. No regular bellringing was possible until completion of work, anticipated to cost £165,000, has been finished. In April 2023, the costs had risen to at least £185,000 with a time frame for completion of 20 weeks. The funding had been raised and the bells were expected to

peal In campanology (bell ringing), a peal is the special name given to a specific type of performance of change ringing which meets certain exacting conditions for duration, complexity and quality. The definition of a peal has changed considerably ...

specially for the coronation of

King Charles III Charles III (Charles Philip Arthur George; born 14 November 1948) is King of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms. Charles was born at Buckingham Palace during the reign of his maternal grandfather, King George VI, and ...

, albeit with scaffolding supporting the

masonry Masonry is the craft of building a structure with brick, stone, or similar material, including mortar plastering which are often laid in, bound, and pasted together by mortar (masonry), mortar. The term ''masonry'' can also refer to the buildin ...

Music

Choir

There are three choral services a week – Wednesday Evensong, Sunday Eucharist and Sunday Evensong. Under the leadership of John Keys, the Choir of St Mary's 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 & Søn of Denmark and is a fine example of a neo-classical style instrument. It was installed in 1973 by the organist of the time, David Butterworth. It has 25 speaking stops and is a small organ for a church of this size. Nevertheless, it is an instrument of the highest quality which adequately gives musical support to choir and congregation as well as serving as a solo instrument.

Organists

There are records of organs in the church in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, but no record of any of the organists from this period has been found.

Organ scholars

* David Gostick: 1997–1998 (now director of music of

Wimborne Minster Wimborne Minster (often referred to as Wimborne, ) is a market town in Dorset in South West England, and the name of the Church of England church in that town. It lies at the confluence of the River Stour and the River Allen, north of Pool ...

) * Alistair Kirk: 1998 * Richard Leach: 1999–2000 * Simon Williams: 2000–2003 * Christopher Burton: 2003–2004 * Jamal Sutton: 2004–2005 * Nicola Harrington: 2005 * Ben Lewis-Smith: 2006–2007 * Simon Williams: 2007–2009 * Max Puller: 2009–2010 * Dominic Wong: 2010–2011 * Edward Byrne: 2019–2021 * William Layzell-Smith: 2022–present

References in literature

The church is mentioned in chapter 15 of Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence. "They threaded through the throng of church-people. The organ was still sounding in St. Mary’s. Dark figures came through the lighted doors; people were coming down the steps. The large coloured windows glowed up in the night. The church was like a great lantern suspended". In the ballad Robin Hood and the Monk, Robin attends mass at St Mary's. The ballad is written in a manuscript dating from about 1450.

References

External links

*
Choir websiteSee St Mary's on Google Street View
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nottingham, Saint Mary St Mary's Church, Nottingham

Saint Mary Mary was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Saint Joseph, Joseph and the mother of Jesus. She is an important figure of Christianity, venerated under titles of Mary, mother of Jesus, various titles such as Perpetual virginity ...

Temple Moore buildings