To transform the world, to recreate it afresh, we must turn onto another path…. As a core part of the town’s historic centre with the Market Cross and Castle and on the main road to the Bowes Museum, St. Mary’s has been central to the life of this Teesdale market town for 875 Years. St. Mary’s is a place of inspiration and hope. It carries the stories both of ordinary and extra-ordinary people. As a public building it welcomes all comers: pilgrims, tourists, concert-goers, and worshippers, uniformed organisations, historians, music lovers and schoolchildren, bell ringers, brass bands, brides and grooms, choirs, babies and parents, the bereaved, young people and the armed forces – all find that this ‘sacred space’ contributes to their sense of wellbeing and belonging. Working together, the Church Council and The Friends of St. Mary’s are now launching a major appeal to enable St. Mary’s to explore new ways of making its distinctive contribution to the life of the town and the dale. We hope that you will support us. Rev Alec Harding |
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Our Plans
Finding
a way in new spaces
Churches, like people, change over time. We wish to help the church to meet the spiritual needs of a new generation by creating less formal spaces for worship and the exploration of spirituality. It is important that these areas be accessible to all.
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We hope to clear the south transept and to uncover the Dugard memorial window offering this new space for smaller acts of worship
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We will lay a labyrinth in the floor of the transept – an ancient tool to explore the spiritual journey and an attraction for pilgrims and tourists alike
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We will lower the floor of St. Margaret’s chapel offering this enclosed space for private prayer and reflection
Shared
glory
The musical traditions of the church are strong. Its robed choir supports other congregations in the dale and takes part in events further afield. Who can fail to be inspired by the sound of an organ filling an ancient church with music?
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We will install a new digital organ at the west end of the church. Using the latest technology the new organ will greatly expand the repertoire that can be performed, an attraction to recitalists and a fitting accompaniment to services and concerts
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The area around the organ console will be cleared to form a gathering space
A warm welcome
Hospitality is central to the life of any Christian community. We want St. Mary’s to be able to embrace the cultural life of the town as a venue for concerts and social gatherings.
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We will renew the heating system of the church providing a more comfortable environment for events. This will enable a trip hazard to be removed by dropping the pew plinths.
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We will create bays for the accommodation of wheelchairs/buggies
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We will create a servery at the back of church allowing refreshments to be served at community events
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We will redecorate the whole of the church
Telling
the story
St. Mary’s has a long memory! The building has a story to tell of Kings, soldiers, saints and tradition
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Richard, Duke of Gloucester and the last Plantaganet King of England greatly endowed this church before his death in battle on Bosworth field.
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Generations of soldiers looked to St. Mary’s as the spiritual home of the Durham Militia and later of regiments from the Durham Light Infantry.
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Rev. George Dugard is commemorated here for his tireless battle against the cholera epidemic in the 1840’s and his work in introducing a clean water supply to the town.
The Friends want these and other stories to be heard through the creation of displays about the church past and present.
Estimated Project Costs
1) Alterations to pews and pew platforms in Nave, Aisles and North Transept: £137,650
2)
Installation of new organ and organ casing: £138,132
3) Provision of Refreshment Facility in west end of South Aisle: £17,650
4) Improvements in South Transept: Labyrinth and display: £52,125
5) Renewal of heating system: £92,200
6) General improvements: decorating, lighting: £61,500
7) Improvements in St. Margaret's Chapel: £32,525
The great religions face an immense challenge but an inspiring one: to show that life is more than shopping, society more than an arena of politics and power, that you don't need worldly success to have dignity, that the spirit is sustained not by a succession of pleasures that gradually fade but by wisdom that gradually grows; that love needs loyalty to be worthy of its name. It is about being lifted by lifting others and being part of a community united by a vision of the common good.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
You can support St Mary's too by donating via PayPal.
The Parochial Church Council is an exempt charity. The Friends of St Mary's Church Barnard Castle, Registered Charity No. 1097736.