It appears that St Mary’s church has had many different incarnations over the years. According to articles published in 1988 by W.W. Christian, the first written evidence of a church at Harrington is in AD 1177, when it was gifted to the Church of St Mary of York. Whatever building stood on this site needed major repairs in 1634 and this date was carved on the thirteenth century font at the front of the church. In 1808 the church was extended eastwards with a new chancel and part nave, built wider and higher than the existing nave. This rather inelegant extension can be seen in this Victorian etching and earned St Mary’s the nickname of “the snail church”.
The extension lasted only 77 years, when it became apparent that major rebuilding work was required. It was originally intended to reduce the building to window sill level, but it was discovered that the foundations were inadequate, and so the whole building was razed to the ground and new foundations dug. The new building, without its snail shell and with an incomplete tower, was dedicated by the Bishop of Carlisle on 17th February 1885. It had cost £1,500.
The grave memorials that can be seen in the top photograph were erected in the 20 years between 1885 and 1906 when the tower was finally completed with the addition of the belfry.
The Church Today
We are a church that values traditional worship, but with a contemporary feel. We see our mission to serve God worked out in the love of our community, our welcome to all and in the nurturing of young and old alike. We aim to be a place where faith is deepened, friendships are formed, and people can encounter God’s presence in ways that speak to today’s world. Rooted in prayer and strengthened by our shared life, we seek to live out the hope of the Gospel in all we do, offering support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging to everyone who walks through our doors.
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