Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bury
Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bury | ||
---|---|---|
Consecrated Candlemas 1876 | | |
Architecture | ||
Functional status | Active | |
Heritage designation | Grade I | |
Designated | 13 July 2006 | |
Architect(s) | J. S. Crowther (1870 rebuild) | |
Architectural type | Church | |
Completed | 1876 | |
Specifications | ||
Length | 141 feet (43.0 m) | |
Nave width | 30 feet (9.1 m) | |
Height | 76 feet (23.2 m) | |
Materials | Dressed stone exterior partially lined in brick Slate roof | |
Bells | Eight | |
Administration | ||
Province | York | |
Diocese | Manchester | |
Archdeaconry | Bolton | |
Deanery | Bury | |
Clergy | ||
Rector | Revd. Julian Heaton | |
Curate(s) | Sheila Beattie | |
Laity | ||
Director of music | Marc Murray | |
Organist(s) | Elin Rees |
The Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin is located at the highest point in the town centre of Bury, Greater Manchester, England. The church is located on the edge of the town centre, and is just a few minutes walk from the town's bus and tram station, as well as the Millgate Shopping Centre and the newly built the Rock. The main body of the church was completed on the 2 February 1876, the steeple predates it to 1842. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[1]
The church is a regimental church of the
History
Church records suggest that the first church was built on the site in 971 A.D. when parishes were first formed by King
In July 2013, the church was the scene of a military funeral for murdered British soldier Lee Rigby. The service was attended by thousands of mourners, including Prime Minister David Cameron.[3]
Architecture
The building is of dressed stone with slate roofs, with a buttressed 3-stage tower with a spire. The interior features a
The clock in the tower was the gift of Henry Whitehead, formerly High Sheriff of Lancashire.[4]
See also
References
- ^ a b Historic England. "Parish Church of St Mary, Bury (1067236)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 20 December 2011.
- ^ "The History of Bury Parish Church". buryparishchurch.com. Bury Parish Church. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- ^ "Lee Rigby: Military funeral for killed soldier". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- ^ "John Whitehead's Penwortham Pictures". www.prestonhistoricalsociety.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 January 2019. Retrieved 12 October 2021.