A 900-YEAR-OLD church has been designated as one the country’s most significant.
The grade I-listed St Mary’s Parish Church, in Barnard Castle, is one of 350 out of 16,0000 to be classified as being a “major parish church” by the Church Buildings Council. Vicar at St Mary’s Revd Canon Alec Harding said: “To be told that we are one of the major parish churches is a great thing.”
The designation is a result of a review by the Church Buildings Council.
The council said St Mary’s had all or most of the characteristics that mark it out as one of the most special and well-loved places of worship in the country.
To be named a major parish church, a site had to have exceptional significance or size, be grade I or II* listed, be open daily to visitors and have a role beyond those of a typical parish church, as well as make a considerable civic, cultural and economic contribution to the community.
Mr Harding added: “This couldn’t have come at a better time for us as in mid-June the application for the National Lottery Heritage Fund bid will be put in and this will no doubt help with the application. The bid will enable us to carry out urgent work on the church fabric, alongside our partners DigVentures, and will also enable us to engage more people with the heritage of the church.
“As a parish church we are open all day, every day and free to visit. Work within the church over the last dozen years has made us more accessible to visitors. This, plus our historic links with Richard III, the Durham Militia and Light Infantry and the social history of the town, have presumably formed part of the Church Buildings Council’s assessment.”
