Mutilated_Pixie
01-06-2011, 06:36 PM
After a bit of negotiating with the Rev, I was allowed to access the church so CCM and I headed to St Marys for an explore. We met the Bell ringers, who were lovely and helpful and we even had a member of the choir singing and also the organ playing at times. We even got to witness the bell ringers practice.
The story behind St Mary The Virgin Parish Church is a very interesting one and goes as far back as the 13th century.
In 1247 Lady Alicia DE Lacy asked the Pope to upgrade a chapel in Mirfield to a Parish after her servant was murdered on her way to a Christmas service in Dewsbury. She appointed Richard DE Vavasour Vicar in 1247 and a church was built in 1261.
John Heton of Castle Hall built a rectory for the church around 1300, 200 yards down the road on Pinfold Lane and was occupied by Rectors until 1401.
With the exception of the tower the church was rebuilt on a larger scale in 1826, costing nearly £2000 raised by subscription and contains 1000 sittings.
The present church was built in 1871 on the site of the former Castle Hall. The architect appointed for this task was Sir George Gilbert Scott and Messrs. W & J. Milner of Mirfield were the contractors. The church was built at a cost of £22,000 with a tower standing 139 feet from base to pinnacle. The Belfry has 10 bells that were installed in 1871 and were overhauled in 1934 and 1984.
On April 11th 2007 St. Mary's in Mirfield, St. Paul's in Eastthorpe, and St. John's in Upper Hopton became a single benefice to form the Mirfield Team Parish.
To the right of this picture is the tower of the original church and on closer inspection different building methods can be seen, from the rubble at the bottom, to the stonework at the top. The tower and the area of the original church is now a memorial garden.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5894.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5896.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5897.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5895.jpg
Once again CCM got into trouble so he had to be put into the stocks.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5891.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5712.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5715.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5727.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5729.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5734.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5737.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5740.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5757.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5763.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5726.jpg
The Lady Chapel
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5748.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5749.jpg
The Mirfield Stone is believed to be a grave monument dating from the late 11th century. It is 30.5 inches high, 11 inches Wide and tapers from 8 inches at the base to 9.5 inches at the top. It is made of sandstone and is rudely carved on all 4 sides. It is the only known example of a complete monument from that period.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5743.jpg
The 16th century Book of Homilies which contains 12 homilies (sermons)
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5745.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5768.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5771.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5798.jpg
After climbing the steep, tight spiral staircase which has 122 stairs I was slightly out of breath and my thighs were tired, but the view up here is more than worth it.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5825.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5827.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5847.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5849.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5850.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5858.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5873.jpg
And as a final treat a video of the bell practice, just click on the picture below and enjoy.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/th_100_5874.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/?action=view¤t=100_5874.mp4)
The story behind St Mary The Virgin Parish Church is a very interesting one and goes as far back as the 13th century.
In 1247 Lady Alicia DE Lacy asked the Pope to upgrade a chapel in Mirfield to a Parish after her servant was murdered on her way to a Christmas service in Dewsbury. She appointed Richard DE Vavasour Vicar in 1247 and a church was built in 1261.
John Heton of Castle Hall built a rectory for the church around 1300, 200 yards down the road on Pinfold Lane and was occupied by Rectors until 1401.
With the exception of the tower the church was rebuilt on a larger scale in 1826, costing nearly £2000 raised by subscription and contains 1000 sittings.
The present church was built in 1871 on the site of the former Castle Hall. The architect appointed for this task was Sir George Gilbert Scott and Messrs. W & J. Milner of Mirfield were the contractors. The church was built at a cost of £22,000 with a tower standing 139 feet from base to pinnacle. The Belfry has 10 bells that were installed in 1871 and were overhauled in 1934 and 1984.
On April 11th 2007 St. Mary's in Mirfield, St. Paul's in Eastthorpe, and St. John's in Upper Hopton became a single benefice to form the Mirfield Team Parish.
To the right of this picture is the tower of the original church and on closer inspection different building methods can be seen, from the rubble at the bottom, to the stonework at the top. The tower and the area of the original church is now a memorial garden.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5894.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5896.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5897.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5895.jpg
Once again CCM got into trouble so he had to be put into the stocks.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5891.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5712.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5715.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5727.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5729.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5734.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5737.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5740.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5757.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5763.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5726.jpg
The Lady Chapel
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5748.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5749.jpg
The Mirfield Stone is believed to be a grave monument dating from the late 11th century. It is 30.5 inches high, 11 inches Wide and tapers from 8 inches at the base to 9.5 inches at the top. It is made of sandstone and is rudely carved on all 4 sides. It is the only known example of a complete monument from that period.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5743.jpg
The 16th century Book of Homilies which contains 12 homilies (sermons)
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5745.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5768.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5771.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5798.jpg
After climbing the steep, tight spiral staircase which has 122 stairs I was slightly out of breath and my thighs were tired, but the view up here is more than worth it.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5825.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5827.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5847.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5849.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5850.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5858.jpg
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/100_5873.jpg
And as a final treat a video of the bell practice, just click on the picture below and enjoy.
http://i1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/th_100_5874.jpg (http://s1217.photobucket.com/albums/dd381/Mutilated_Pixie/St%20Marys%20Church/?action=view¤t=100_5874.mp4)