Barnard Castle St Mary

Parish Notes Durham

Barnard Castle St Mary

[Population 1911: 5,500 incl. 248 persons enumerated in the North Eastern County School for Boys]

Church

THE CHURCH, dedicated to St. Mary, is a spacious building, consisting of nave, aisles, transept, and chancel, with a square tower at the north-west corner. It stands near the angle formed by the junction of Newgate-street with the Bank, and will accommodate about 900 persons. The whole of the exterior walls are embattled. The tower was formerly surmounted with a leaden spire, which was removed, in consequence of its unsafe condition, in 1774, and the tower was raised to a height of sixty feet. It formerly contained four bells, the oldest of which was remarkable for the purity of its tone, and round its rim was the following inscription:- "Campana Sancti Trinitatis et omnium Sanctorum." These were sold in 1823, and a new peal of six bells were purchased in their stead. The weight of the present peal is 73 cwt. 2qrs. 8lbs. In 1813, the western entrance of the church was restored, and the whole of the interior was repaired and neatly pewed at the same time. The north aisle is formed by octagonal and cylindrical pillars, supporting circular arches of unequal span; and the southern one by octagonal pillars supporting pointed arches. The windows of the aisle are square, with mullioned compartments. The south porch of the transept, in which was anciently a chantry of Our Blessed Lady, has long served as the place of sepulture of the Bowses of Streathlam, several of whose escucheons, with a helmet, a gauntlet, and a banner, decorate its walls. The entrance to the chancel is beneath a pointed arch, sculptured with leaves and human heads, and supported by pillars, with embattled capitals. The east window, rebuilt in 1816, consists of five lights, surmounted by a pointed arch; and instead of the two windows of the south a pointed one was inserted at the same period. The font is a large octagonal basin, of the black marble found in the Tees, sculptured on four of its alternate faces with a raised shield, the intermediate compartments containing a triangular device symbolic of the Trinity. There was anciently a chantry in the south transept, founded by Robert de Mortham, vicar of Gainford, in 1280, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. There were also five other chantries, the founders of which are unknown, viz., those of St. Catharine, St. Helen, and St. Margaret (the two latter were within the castle), with an endowment of £6 a-year; that of the Twelve Apostles, and the guild or franternity of the Holy Trinity, with a yearly income of £5 18s. 8d. In the south transept there is a recumbent effigy of Robert de Mortham, in his ecclesiastical robes, bearing the chalice in his hands. Several other remains of antiquity are found in the church; and near the west end of the south aisle, on the side of a curious table monument, is a colourful effigy of George Hopper, of Black Hedley, Northumberland, dressed in a cocked hat, blue coat, and yellow breeches, of the fashion of the last century, holding a red rose in one hand, and an inscribed scroll in the other. In a niche in the wall of the chancel, there is a splendid monument of Malta stone, to the memory of Sir John Hullock, baron of the exchequer. It was erected in 1835, and consists of a statue of the Goddess of Justice, beneath which is an inscription upon marble, supported by a carved corbel, bearing the name and crest of the deceased. There are several other monuments and funeral brasses in the church, but our limited space precludes a more extended notice. The parish register commences in 1609. The living is a curacy, in the deanery of Darlington, not in charge; the vicar of Gainford, patron. The income of the curacy is derived from a stipend of £6 10s. paid by the vicar of Gainford; £10 per annum from the trustees of Lord Crewe's charity; £63, the rent of land at Holdsworth, in Marwood; £9, the rent of land at Northfield, in the parish of Startforth, purchased with Queen Anne's Bounty; with thirty acres at Bowes, and an allotment on Bowes Moor; the churchyard, and the surplice fees. The living has been augmented from Queen Anne's Bounty, and other sources; and the gross income now amounts to about £228 per annum. Rev. george Dugard, M.A., curate; Rev. Thomas Jones, B.A., sub-assistant curate. [Whellan's History, Topography and Directory of Durham (and Newcastle) (1856), pages 421-22.]

In grateful
commemoration of the
ministry of the
Rev. Fred^k Brown M.A.
late fellow of Trinity College Camb.
Hon. Canon of Durham
first vicar 1865 - 1898

To the Glory of God and in memory
of William Watson of Thornton House
Barnard Castle, & Mary his wife 1891 - 1892

To the Glory of God and in
loving memory of Mary Watson
widow of William Watson of
Spring Lodge born 1824 died 1903

TO THE GLORY OF GOD & IN MEMORY OF
THEIR FRIEND THE LATE WILLIAM MAVDE
LT. COL. DURHAM FVSILIERS WHO DIED 7 DEC. 1870
THIS WINDOW IS ERECTED BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS

To the Glory of God and in loving memory of
Thomas Richardson who was born Dec
17^th 1804 and died October 24^th 1890.

To the Glory of God and in memory of
George Brownless of New Broomelaw
Ob. 1871 and Catharine his wife ob. 1866

TO THE MEMORY OF THE REVEREND
JOHN DAVIDSON WHO WAS MINISTER OF THIS CHAPEL
32 YEARS AND DIED THE 14^TH OF JULY 1847

In loving memory of
Frank Callis
who fell asleep
September 20th 1912
aged 47 years

To the Glory of God and in loving
memory of Elizabeth Richardson
and of Mary Alice her daughter
who for 50 years was a Sunday
School Teacher in this parish

Townships

Topography

History

The Parish Chest

Non-Parochial Records

Newcastle Courant 27/4/1838 The church-yard at Barnardcastle having become crowded, two pieces of ground adjoining have lately been purchased for the purpose of enlarging it, and subscriptions entered ionto in order to defray the expenses, which are estimated at about 350l. His Grace the Duke of Cleveland, and Miss Lee, of Staindrop, with their usual liberality, have each subscribed 50l., and the Bishop of Durham 15l., the Rev. John Davidson 10l., Lady Hullock 10l. 10s., the Rev. W.L. Prattman 10l., and Wm Watson, Esq. 5l.

Newcastle Courant 20/9/1844 (4a) On the 18th inst., Mr Thomas Bainbridge, of Barnard-castle, dropped down dead while he was gathering manure on the road between the former place and the Abbey Bridge.

Page	Name	Abode	Date	Age
301/2406	A stranger, name unknown	Barnard Castle	27th of January 1837	Supposed about 26 years