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A large, Perpendicular Gothic church,
serving the
Parish of Thirsk in the Diocese of York
The Benefice of Thirsk
Rector: Rev Richard Rowling |
St Mary's Church Thirsk: Home Page
St Mary's Church Thirsk 
Looking along the nave, towards the chancel | St. Mary’s is an Anglican Church situated at the end of Kirkgate.It was built between 1420 and 1480 and is a magnificent mediaeval
building. Often called the cathedral of North Yorkshire because of its outstanding
Perpendicular Gothic architecture, size and prominence - it has an 80 ft tower - it has served the needs of the people of Thirsk for over 500 years. It has seen many changes, witnessed turbulent times and helped people to see beyond their troubles and encouraged them to look to God.
St Mary's welcomes thousands of visitors every year and is open daily- until the end of October -from 10.00am to 4.00pm and 12.00pm to 4.00pm on Sundays .
There is no dedicated parking but there are free Disc zone 2 hour spaces near church, some free parking on the roadside past the church and 'pay & display' in local car parks. In the Market Place reasonable charges apply - first hour free, second hour 40p. | Welcome-the Door is Open
Volunteers keep church open every day from 10.00am (midday Sundays) until 4.00pm. As the building of St. Mary’s began in 1410 there are many things of special historic interest which ‘Welcomers’ like to point out. Many visitors fail to notice the wonderful door which, apart from having new hinges in 1747, has been in use since the church was built. Visitors are often given a demonstration of the amazing way the door closes and so appreciate the skills of those who crafted it.
Thanks to a generous donor a new cable has been fitted to the Font cover so, not only can the Font once again be used for baptisms, but visitors can see how the Font cover is raised.
| Regular and Special Services St. Mary's offers a full range of regular services on Sundays , including Holy Communion at 8.00am using the Book of Common Prayer)Parish Communion at 10.15a.m. and All Age Worship (without Holy Communion) which is usually held on the second Sunday in the month.There is no regular Evening service on a Sunday but there are Morning and Evening Prayer services during the week.
Arrangements for funerals may be made through the Rector or the Curate , using the contact details from the link above.Christenings and weddings may be arranged during the Office Hour, 6.00pm to 6.50pm in the vestry, every Monday evening -except Bank Holidays. (Please note that the Evening Service follows immediately at 7.00pm) | Ark Clubs Ark Club(Sunday School).During the 10.15 service on Sundays in termtime the children go into the Crypt with their leaders for stories and activities before rejoining the congregation for blessing or Holy Communion.
So why is St. Mary's Sunday School called Ark Club ? Some years ago it entered a float depicting Noah's Ark into the Thirsk Festival competition and won first prize.The children decided they much preferred to be known as the 'Ark Club' - and so it was.
The Little Ark Club is a club for parents, grandparents, carers and toddlers which meets in church on Tuesday mornings from 10.00a.m.to 11.30a.m. during term time. | Hidden Talents St. Mary’s is surely blessed with people with different talents and skills. We may not know what they are but God gave them and we hope they will not be wasted.
Every year we lose members and helpers for all sorts of reasons so we are constantly hoping for new people to come forward.You do not have to be a churchgoer or a member of St. Mary's to be involved. We appreciate and accept all offers of help.
Is there any activity in which you would like to be involved? Is there something you have done in another church that you would like to do at St. Mary’s? Are you able to offer some time to be a soup maker, home baker or refreshment server in the Crypt? If so, Sue Armstrong, our churchwarden, will be pleased to hear from you.
If you can offer some time as a Welcomer contact our Tourism Officer, Margaret Hunton.
| Herriot Connections Thirsk is the town in which Alf Wight, writing as James Herriot, was in veterinary practise. He was married to Joan Danbury in St. Mary’s Church on 5th November 1941 with only the vicar and two witnesses present. (There is an interesting description in one of his books ‘Let sleeping Vets Lie’.) His daughter was married in St. Mary’s Church as was his granddaughter (on 6th August 2005)
| Parish Records Thirsk Parish Registers date from 1556, but only the current registers are held in the Church. Historic registers, together with other Parish Chest documents (such as churchwardens’ accounts, bastardy orders, apprenticeships and so on) are deposited in the North Yorkshire County Record Office in Northallerton where they may be consulted on microfilm. A printed transcript of the Thirsk registers from 1556 to 1721 was published in 1911 and can be found as Volume 42 in the Yorkshire Parish Register Society series. Indexed transcripts of the registers to 1837 can be consulted at the County Record Office.
Whilst emails concerning family histories are welcome it is not possible for the Media Officer to undertake any research.However the local branch of the County Library in Finkle Street has a useful collection of books on local history including trade directories of which one of the most useful is that published by Bulmer in 1892. The Local Studies section of the County Library in Northallerton has a wider range. Local family history advice is also available through Thirsk Museum, just a short walk from the church in Kirkgate.
Useful telephone numbers:
North Yorkshire County Record Office: 01609-777585
Thirsk Town Council: 01845-526445
Thirsk Museum: 01845- 527707
| Burial Records- Information If you are seeking burial entries you should note that the churchyard at St. Mary’s was closed in 1880 and with the exception of a very few burials in family vaults (mainly those of the BELL family) interments after that date took place in the cemetery and are not recorded in the burial register.
Cemetery records are held by Thirsk Town Council and can be consulted by arrangement with the Clerk to the Council. In 1991 the Cleveland, North Yorkshire and South Durham Family History Society made records of all the existing memorial inscriptions in the church and churchyard, but not those in the cemetery. An indexed copy of the survey may be consulted in the church, but it should be remembered that this list records only those gravestones and other memorials that were legible at the time of the survey and by no means covers all the burials that have taken place. This list also records past incumbents and the names on the War Memorial which stands within the church and not outside. | Admission to Exhibitions Admission to Exhibitions is free but donations to Church Funds are welcome. The Crypt is open every Monday for Refreshments and soup Lunches.On Bank Holiday Mondays there are savouries,scones, biscuits and cakes made by St.Mary's Women's Fellowship.
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Electronic Newsletter
St. Mary's publishes a printed newsletter on a regular basis and this is available from the Church, or it can be delivered within the
Thirsk area by arrangement. If you would like to receive this newsletter via email, simply click on the button to add your
email address to our electronic mailing list.
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