One of the most rewarding village churches in County Durham.
Pevsner
Visitors to this fantastic church will be further rewarded if their visit coincideds with a time that the church is open. the church is open to visitors on Thursday between the hours of 9.30 and 1pm, and 3.30pm to 5.30pm. Outside of these hours a key can be requested (Mon-Fri 9am-1pm) from the church office, please see the notice board for a phone number or follow the additional waypoint.
The history of the church at Norton can be dated to around 1000 when the village and its people where given as a benefaction to St Cuthbert at Durham, following this in the year 1020 a church was built as a place of worship and protection. Elements of this period can still be seen in the architecture of the building. In 1083 by Papal rescript the church became a collegiate church known as:
'The Collegiate and Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, Our Lady of the Assumption.'
The symbol of the assumption, a sword transfixing a heart enfolded by two gold wings, was adopted at this point and to this day remains an emblem of St Mary's Norton.
St Mary's Norton was the mother church of a parish extending over Stockton, Preston and Hartburn up until 1713 when Stockton became a seperate parish.
Although over its long history it has been altered and enlarged, when it was built St Mary's was a small saxon church. This saxon heritage is thought to be unique in that it is possibly the only surviving saxon cruciform church with a tower of its type. As Pevsner stated this is a rewarding church and as such visitors will be greatly rewarded by visiting the interior of this church where younger and older geokids can spot such things as:
- saxon doorways above arches
- Masons marks
- Elizabethan 'dole' cupboards
- Ornate stone font
- Erosion on the east wall by worshipers crossing themselves with holy water from a nearby stoop
- and of course you must partake in a mouse hunt, the mouse being the signature of The Mouseman (Thompson of kilburn) who carved the pews, pulpit and alter rails
- Once outside again you could respectfully search the gravyard for John Walker's grave (Inventor of the friction match)
St Marys Norton has served the needs of the parish for nearly 1000 years and continues to do so and as the authour of the web page states:
'It is still an inspiration to us today as we strive to learn about the love of God, amd to respond in love to Him.'
For more information about the church, its history and worship times please follow this link: St Mary's Norton
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