St Mary the Virgin, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
West Tower, c1400.
The tower was heightened slightly when the rest of the church was rebuilt by Woodhead & Hurst, 1819-22.
Restored by George Frederick Bodley (1830-1907), 1869-70.
Grade ll* listed.

Despite its central location, opposite the Cooper Gallery and very close to the Town Hall, this church seems always to be locked. Except, I suppose, to its group of Sunday worshippers.

There are four major towns in South Yorkshire - Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster. All have a central parish church (or cathedral in the case of Sheffield). Three of these are open and welcoming every day. One isn't.

My Flickr colleague Simon K would probably say something like this....
For, while the mission of the Church of England is increasingly seen as to the whole people of God and not just to its registered members, and churches all over England are making themselves open to pilgrims and strangers wanting to feel a sense of the numinous and even perhaps to be open to a spirituality which may or may not be Christian but which is at least a yearning for God, the people of Barnsley are locked out of their own church from day to day.

PS
I have finally succeeded in gaining a glimpse of the inside of this church. It was open for Heritage Open Days in September 2021. We received a warm welcome and offer our thanks to those who made access possible.

Tags:   church barnsley south yorkshire

© All Rights Reserved

St Mary the Virgin, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
West Tower, c1400.
The tower was heightened slightly when the rest of the church was rebuilt by Woodhead & Hurst, 1819-22.
Restored by George Frederick Bodley (1830-1907), 1869-70.
Grade ll* listed.

Despite its central location, opposite the Cooper Gallery and very close to the Town Hall, this church seems always to be locked. Except, I suppose, to its group of Sunday worshippers.

There are four major towns in South Yorkshire - Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster. All have a central parish church (or cathedral in the case of Sheffield). Three of these are open and welcoming every day. One isn't.

My Flickr Colleague Simon K would probably say something like this....
For, while the mission of the Church of England is increasingly seen as to the whole people of God and not just to its registered members, and churches all over England are making themselves open to pilgrims and strangers wanting to feel a sense of the numinous and even perhaps to be open to a spirituality which may or may not be Christian but which is at least a yearning for God, the people of Barnsley are locked out of their own church from day to day.

PS
I have finally succeeded in gaining a glimpse of the inside of this church. It was open for Heritage Open Days in September 2021. We received a warm welcome and offer our thanks to those who made access possible.

Tags:   barnsley south yorkshire church

© All Rights Reserved

St Mary the Virgin, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
West Tower, c1400.
The tower was heightened slightly when the rest of the church was rebuilt by Woodhead & Hurst, 1819-22.
Restored by George Frederick Bodley (1830-1907), 1869-70.
Grade ll* listed.

Tags:   barnsley south yorkshire church

© All Rights Reserved

St Mary the Virgin, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
West Tower, c1400.
The tower was heightened slightly when the rest of the church was rebuilt by Woodhead & Hurst, 1819-22.
Restored by George Frederick Bodley (1830-1907), 1869-70.
Grade ll* listed.

Tags:   barnsley south yorkshire church

© All Rights Reserved

St Mary the Virgin, Barnsley, South Yorkshire.
West Tower, c1400.
The tower was heightened slightly when the rest of the church was rebuilt by Woodhead & Hurst, 1819-22.
Restored by George Frederick Bodley (1830-1907), 1869-70.
Grade ll* listed.
Looking East.
Screen & Pews by GF Bodley, 1870.

Tags:   barnsley church south yorkshire

© All Rights Reserved