History
St Mary's Parish Church has a unique place in the history of Barnard Castle. Founded in 1130, it sits at the heart of the town, and its story.
St Mary’s – the historic heart of Barnard Castle
St Mary’s Church has stood at the heart of Barnard Castle’s story from the very beginning. When Bernard Baliol built his stone castle here in 1130, St Mary’s Church was founded alongside it. As the castle grew, so too did St Mary’s; positioned close to the marketplace in the centre of the new town, at the crossing of its two most important roads, and opposite the castle entrance, St Mary’s was one of the first buildings visitors to the town would see. And while the castle, set high on a rocky crag, bears the stories of invasions, barons and kings, St Mary’s sits proudly in the town centre, bearing witness to the everyday life of the town and its residents, from cradle to grave, for over 800 years.
12 Things to See When You Visit St Mary’s
St Mary’s stands at the very heart of Barnard Castle and all kinds of people share in its history – a medieval vicar chased up the church tower by ne’er-do-wells, soldiers from the town garrison, a priest who faithfully served his flock in a devastating epidemic, and a king who planned an amazing College here in the 15th century. Find out about more of the fascinating stories and amazing artefacts you can find at St Mary’s.
Richard III, Lord of Barnard Castle, and St Mary’s Church
The chancel arch at St Mary’s Church features the only known sculpted image of Richard’s face, and his boar badge is also carved into the building. Why? Because when Richard Duke of Gloucester was made Lord of Barnard Castle in 1474, both the castle and St Mary’s Church became of great importance to him. With his large grants of money, St Mary’s grew in size and height, flooded with light from new windows. He even planned a large religious college based at St Mary’s, with a Dean, twelve chaplains and numerous choristers.
Virtual Tours
Want to discover the history of St Mary’s Church, explore the stories hidden in its architecture, and view its sculptures in detail? From the evolution of the church building, to the strange architectural features hidden in its corners, you can download a History Guide, watch a Virtual Tour, or take a close-up look at the history of St Mary’s in our online gallery of 3D models.
History Articles
Read more about some of the most curious historical gems that have been re-discovered at St Mary's Church on our blog
Windows to the World
St Mary’s Parish Church has partnered with DigVentures to launch Windows to the World, an interactive project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund to revitalise the church.
Besides necessary restorations, the project aims at refocusing St Mary’s position in the town and turning it into a heritage destination while still keeping its purpose as a house of worship.
