Nottingham

St Mary

Nottingham Archdeaconry

Nottingham South Deanery

Introduction

Although a church was mentioned here in the Domesday Survey the present church dates from the 15th century.

St Mary’s church is over 500 years old but is at least the third church on the site, which has been occupied since the times of Saxons and Vikings. St Mary’s is constructed in the Perpendicular style. The building is in the shape of a Latin cross with a tower at the crossing of the nave, transepts and chancel, with huge windows, delicate tracery, and slender ribbed pillars. The exterior is richly decorated with gargoyles, carved heads and animals. It is typical of the great urban and mercantile-funded churches that were constructed in the 14th and 15th centuries. Internally, there are fine examples of Victorian woodwork by George Gilbert Scott and by Bodley & Garner.

St Mary’s is one of the key buildings in the city of Nottingham, others being the Castle and the Council House. It is the Civic Church of the city and also the University Church for the University of Nottingham. It plays host to numerous concerts, is the scene of countless special services, Legal, Civic, Memorial, and is where people have flocked at times of trauma.

Particular thanks to Brian & Pauline Miller for research on this entry