Norton St Mary

Parish Notes Durham

Norton St Mary the Virgin

[Population 1911: 6,103]

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Church

The Church, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, stands on the highest ground in the village, towards the north, and was originally a cruciform structure, with a square central tower; but the south transept has been considerably shortened. It was repaired and restored in 1823, and will now accomodate about 850 persons. The south transept was anciently called "Pity Porch," from its being dedicated to Our Lady of Pity; and the north transept bore the name of "Blakiston Porch." The latter contains several monuments of that family, and possesses a small gallery, erected in 1854. This porch formerly contained a recumbent effigy, which is now placed on the south side of the chancel, and represents a knight in armour, with a rich canopy of tabernacle work over the head, the hands elevated, and the legs crossed, the feet resting on a lion. The church contains a fine painting of the recognition of Our Saviour by the two disciples at Emmaus, formerly an altar piece in a Benedictine Convent, on the continent. On the south side of the chancel there is a neat stained glass window, placed there in 1853. By papal rescript, Norton was made a collegiate church by Bishop Carileph, for the maintenance of the secular canons whom he had removed from Durham: and consisted, after 1227, of eight prebendaries, whose incomes were estimated, in 1291, at £6 per annum; but the total value in 1534 was £4 6s. 8d. each, or £34 13s. 4d. in the whole. The living is now a vicarage, in the deanery of Stockton, valued in the Liber Regis at £31 11s. 5½d.; gross income £379. The parish register commences in 1574. Patron the Bishop of Durham; incumbent, the Hon. and Rev. Francis N. Clements, B.A. [Whellan's History, Topography and Directory of Durham (and Newcastle) (1856), page 556.]

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