St Mary's Church
The Anglican church of St Mary’s was the religious masterpiece of architect William Burges whose Gothic designs clearly verged on the late 19th-century Arts and Crafts Movement.
The church of St. Mary’s was commissioned in 1870 by the first Marquess and Marchioness
of Ripon to commemorate the Marchioness’ brother who had been murdered in Greece.
The Marquess, who had succeeded to the estate in 1859, was a successful politician
and Viceroy of India in 1880-1884. A deeply religious man, he disliked Renaissance
architecture and looked back with nostalgia to what he saw as the more humanitarian
caring Middle Ages.
Designed by William Burges in the Victorian Gothic style, St Mary’s has a highly
decorated interior characteristic of the Anglo-Catholic religious sentiments of
the Victorian period.
Burges was an expert of medieval art and Christian iconography and symbolism.
Using this knowledge he created a striking interior: The chancel and sanctuary
are richly decorated with carved angels and lions set against a painted multitude
of angelic musicians, mostly in red and gold.
The organ case is designed to resemble a medieval house, with projecting upper
storeys and a spiral staircase. Multicoloured carved parrots, a favourite of Burges,
perch above the choir stalls. The church was consecrated in 1878.
The church is open to visitors from 12pm to 4pm from 1 April (or Easter if earlier) to
the end of September. Four services are held at St Mary’s each year and a limited
number of weddings are permitted to take place with special permission.
St Mary's Church is owned by English Heritage and managed by The National Trust.
