Church of St Mary (Belford with Middleton)
St Mary's Church, Belford. Photo by Northumberland County Council, 1990.
Parish church's earliest feature appears to be the 12th century chancel arch. Chancel restored in 1828, tower and porch added later that century. (1)(2)
Church of St Mary was rebuilt in 1827 on the site of an ancient chapel. It is nearly all modern, except for the chancel which is ancient. A 13th century Norman arch was discovered in 1879 plastered up, its supporting pillars had been removed. (3)
Accounts that St Mary's Church was newly built in 1700 are mistaken. An extract from Belford register of December 8 1713 mentions rebuilding of the church. In addition, there is a Norman chancel arch, two 14th century windows and remains of ancient masonry in other parts of the chancel. The former building was in the possession of Nostell priory (Wakefield). The south door of the chancel bears the date 1615 which may mark a period of restoration. The chancel arch was probably rebuilt and the side which once faced west has been turned to the east. (4)
Church includes a series of war memorials as:
* a metal-bound book of remembrance beneath the pulpit of the church.
* a stained glass window inscribed "GIVING THANKS TO GOD/ FOR THE DEATH MEMORY OF/ FRANCIS AUGUSTUS/ ATKINSON CLARK, LIEUTENANT/ SCOTS GUARDS, WHO WAS/ SUDDENLY CALLED TO HIS REST AT/ BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA,/ XXIST APRIL MCMII AGED XXVI,/ THESE FIGURES OF S.S. MAURICE/ AND OSWALD ARE DEDICATED/ BY HIS SORROWING PARENTS."
* a white marble wall-tablet inscribed "THIS TABLET/ IS ERECTED TO/ PERPETUATE THE/ BELOVED AND HONOURED/ MEMORY OF GERARD SELBY/ LATE CAPTAIN IN THE/ ROYAL NAVY/ WHO DIED IN THE SERVICE OF HIS KING AND COUNTRY./ OF EVERY VIRTUE WHICH CAN/ ADORN HUMAN NATURE/ HE WAS A BRIGHT EXAMPLE./ ALSO/ IN MEMORY OF HIS TWO SONS, VIZ/ WILLIAM, A CAPTAIN IN/ HIS MAJESTY'S NAVY/ AND THOMAS A CAPTAIN IN/ THE ARMY,/ WHO BOTH DIED IN/ THE SERVICE OF THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ MDCCCXV". (5)(6)(7)
It is suggested that the church remodelled by Dobson in 1826-29 was a post-medieval building constructed with medieval materials brought from the old chapel on the hill (HER 5112). The chancel arch has been reconstructed back-to-front with the more ornate side facing east rather than west; this is more or less unparalleled and thought an unlikely error by John Dobson. The 1615 date might mark the initial building of the church, with the 1701 works being a repair or restoration. It is unclear how much earlier fabric survived Dobson's remodelling, although the chancel appears to have been refaced rather than rebuilt and the vestry predates 1826. (8)
Church of St Mary was rebuilt in 1827 on the site of an ancient chapel. It is nearly all modern, except for the chancel which is ancient. A 13th century Norman arch was discovered in 1879 plastered up, its supporting pillars had been removed. (3)
Accounts that St Mary's Church was newly built in 1700 are mistaken. An extract from Belford register of December 8 1713 mentions rebuilding of the church. In addition, there is a Norman chancel arch, two 14th century windows and remains of ancient masonry in other parts of the chancel. The former building was in the possession of Nostell priory (Wakefield). The south door of the chancel bears the date 1615 which may mark a period of restoration. The chancel arch was probably rebuilt and the side which once faced west has been turned to the east. (4)
Church includes a series of war memorials as:
* a metal-bound book of remembrance beneath the pulpit of the church.
* a stained glass window inscribed "GIVING THANKS TO GOD/ FOR THE DEATH MEMORY OF/ FRANCIS AUGUSTUS/ ATKINSON CLARK, LIEUTENANT/ SCOTS GUARDS, WHO WAS/ SUDDENLY CALLED TO HIS REST AT/ BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH AFRICA,/ XXIST APRIL MCMII AGED XXVI,/ THESE FIGURES OF S.S. MAURICE/ AND OSWALD ARE DEDICATED/ BY HIS SORROWING PARENTS."
* a white marble wall-tablet inscribed "THIS TABLET/ IS ERECTED TO/ PERPETUATE THE/ BELOVED AND HONOURED/ MEMORY OF GERARD SELBY/ LATE CAPTAIN IN THE/ ROYAL NAVY/ WHO DIED IN THE SERVICE OF HIS KING AND COUNTRY./ OF EVERY VIRTUE WHICH CAN/ ADORN HUMAN NATURE/ HE WAS A BRIGHT EXAMPLE./ ALSO/ IN MEMORY OF HIS TWO SONS, VIZ/ WILLIAM, A CAPTAIN IN/ HIS MAJESTY'S NAVY/ AND THOMAS A CAPTAIN IN/ THE ARMY,/ WHO BOTH DIED IN/ THE SERVICE OF THEIR/ KING AND COUNTRY/ MDCCCXV". (5)(6)(7)
It is suggested that the church remodelled by Dobson in 1826-29 was a post-medieval building constructed with medieval materials brought from the old chapel on the hill (HER 5112). The chancel arch has been reconstructed back-to-front with the more ornate side facing east rather than west; this is more or less unparalleled and thought an unlikely error by John Dobson. The 1615 date might mark the initial building of the church, with the 1701 works being a repair or restoration. It is unclear how much earlier fabric survived Dobson's remodelling, although the chancel appears to have been refaced rather than rebuilt and the vestry predates 1826. (8)
N5151
Georgian (1714 to 1830)
Victorian (1837 to 1901)
Early 20th Century (1901 to 1932)
Medieval (1066 to 1540)
Victorian (1837 to 1901)
Early 20th Century (1901 to 1932)
Medieval (1066 to 1540)
DESCRIPTIVE BUILDINGS RECORD (LEVEL 2), Church of St Mary ; P Ryder
Disclaimer -
Please note that this information has been compiled from a number of different sources. Durham County Council and Northumberland County Council can accept no responsibility for any inaccuracy contained therein. If you wish to use/copy any of the images, please ensure that you read the Copyright information provided.