Buildings & Architecture of St. Cuthberts, Marton

This Page relates to the CHURCH building only, identifying key points in ‘walk round’ way: Porch On the wall of the porch you will see a painted board recording the gift of land for the relief of poor people of Marton. Before the coming of the welfare state it was common for wealthy people with a social conscience to make some provision for those in need. The Marton poor lands charity is still in existence drawing rent from land in Stokesley. The Vicar and Churchwardens are the trustees. A beautiful modern Salvator Mundi Window that depicts Jesus Christ as Saviour of the World. This was installed in 1958. Unfortunately this is not the original medieval font, this probably was disposed of during the re-build during the 1840’s. The present Font dates from this time and carved round the outside you will see symbols of 4 Evangelists (the Bull of St Matthew the Lion of St Mark the Human Figure of St Luke and the Eagle of St John) together with symbols depicting the Holy Trinity (linked Triangles) the Resurrection (Lamb and Flag) and the Holy Spirit. (Dove). The Nave (Stand at the West End of the Nave and look East towards the Alter) From here you can clearly see the older Medieval stonework on left North Side) and the ‘modern’ Victorian stonework on your right (South Side). When the church was re-built by Rudd in the 1840’s he preserved much of the North Side and re-built the South Side that had been destroyed in the 17th Century fire. Examine the Pillars, Running from west to east: North 1: Medieval images of beast, including (probably) goats, wild boar and dragons. The latter may represent the story of the Sockburn Worm-a local legend about a dragon that terrorised the Tees Valley and was slain by a local hero! North 2: Medieval carvings of trees. North 4: More medieval images of beasts- possibly apes. South 1: A Victorian copy of medieval original. The original was left in the churchyard until about 40 years ago when it was sent to Australia and is now in the Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne together with the cottage where Cook lived at Great Ayton, moved there stone by stone as a memorial to the great navigator. South 3: A Victorian copy of a medieval original. Is this still in the churchyard? Look to the right and see on the South Wall a MEMORIAL TO CAPTAIN JAMES COOK. The parishioners of Marton erected this in 1812, removed during the 1840 re-build, incorporated in the Captain Cook Memorial School built at that time, and returned to St Cuthbert’s in 1989 when the Parish sold that building. THE CROSSING To the right and left you can see THE TRANSEPTS. These are now full of seats (pews) But in medieval times there was an alter dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary in the South Transept (to your right as you face the Alter), there was possibly an alter in the North Transept also. The North Transept In the NORTH TRANSEPT, protected by a carpet, there is set into the floor a medieval gravestone – the oldest carving in the building. This shows a cross, together with a sword and a setsquare (possibly indicating that he was a member of the Knights Templar). It has been thought that this may have been the grave of a knight (the sword) who helped pay for the building or a later re-build of the church (the setsquare). It is a nice thought but we shall never know! The South Transept The owners of Gunnergate Hall used the SOUTH TRANSEPT, re-built in the 1840’s. Note the memorials to some of them (the Dixons) on the walls. The Chancel These seats or STALLS are now used by the choir. They were put here by the Victorian times to be used by the Bolckow family who were Lords of the Manor and built Marton Hall. Note the memorials to some of them on the walls and also the beautiful carvings of angels on the front stalls. The COMMUNION RAILS were the gift of Henry and Bessy Bolckow to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of their wedding, which took place here in 1890. The Piscina On you right you will see the ancient PISCINA or sink that for over 500 years has been used as part of the Eucharist or Holy Communion Service. The WOODEN PANELLING was giving by the Brunton Family in 1914 as a memorial to Robert and Mary Brunton (see notes on window 10). On your left you will see the AUMBRY where Bread and Wine, consecrated at the Eucharist, is reserved to be taken to parisheners too infirm to attend worship. The safe is modern (1988) but the stone niche is medieval and was possibly used for this purpose before the Reformation. Our brief tour ends here at God’s Altar where, Sunday by Sunday and on most weekdays, the Eucharist is celebrated in response to the command of Jesus to ‘do this in memory of Me’. It is quite a thought that this has been carried out for over 800 years in this building and possibly over 1000 years on this site! THE WINDOWS (Numbering starts from the window to the LEFT of the main door, facing inwards). 1. Epiphany, One of the original windows installed after the re-build of the 1840s Note H.T. with Chalice indicating that the window was the gift of Reverend Harrison TAYLOR, Vicar of Marton 1847-1855. 2. St Nicholas. Installed in 1912 as a memorial to Captain James Cook, Image of St Nicholas, Patron Saint of Children and Navigators. Nathanael DANCE RA based the face on the portrait of Captain Cook. 3. West Window. Good Shepherd/Charge to Peter. Reverend Charles BAILEY, Vicar of Marton 1860-1867. (A memorial to). 4. Plain. 5. Plain. 6. St George. Installed in memory of the men of Marton who died in the two World Wars. 7. Jesus and The Children. Installed in memory of Robert Ridley KITCHING who died in 1954 and who is buried in the Churchyard. 8. Blessed Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus. Installed in memory of John (died 1930) and Mary (died 1938) MASON. Both are buried in the churchyard. 9. Plain. 10. St Christopher. Installed in memory of Robert BRUNTON who was killed in a road accident outside his house, Prissick Farm, Ladgate Lane, in 1911. Robert was born in Marton, educated at Captain Cook School. He was Churchwarden here and is buried in the Churchyard. 11. Moses. After the re-build of 1840 this is one of the original windows. The initials I (J). A. P. indicates that it was a gift of Reverend James Allen Park of Elwick Hall, Durham. He owned the Manor of Marton in the 1840s and gave the site of Captain Cook School. 12. East Window. Installed in 1908 by Carl F. H. Bolckow in memory of his wife Margaret. The main image is that of the Crucified Christ with of The Blessed Virgin Mary and St John. The figure below the cross represents St Margaret of Antioch (an allusion to Margaret Bolckow) but can also be interpreted as the Church trampling down the forces of evil represented by the dragon.) The background to this figure shows the outline of the Cleveland Hills (including Roseberry Topping before the peak collapsed earlier this century) which a favourite view of Margaret. This fine Kempe window replaces the original 1840s east window. 13. St Cuthbert’s. One of the original windows installed after the re-build of the 1840s. The inscription tells us that it was a gift of John Bartholomew RUDD (Squire of Tollesby and architect of the re-built church) in memory of Susan Elizabeth RUDD who died in 1830 age 15. Note that St Cuthbert carries the head of St Oswald. This head was kept as a precious relic after Oswald’s martyrdom 642. It was later placed in Cuthbert’s coffin and the skull is still there! 14. Unknown Apostle. Installed in memory of Robert Theodore WILSON & his wife Charlotte Helen. Both died in 1931. Their house became the Marton Hotel & country club. 15. Plain. 16. St. Cuthbert. The following four windows, some of the finest in St Cuthbert’s were made by the famous glass-making firm of Kempe. They were installed by the Dixon Family in memory of Sir Raylton Dixon (died 1901) and his daughter Mabel (died 1905). 17. St. Hilda of Whitby (614-680). She founded monasteries at Hartlepool and Whitby. Middlesbrough was the ‘middle burgh’ between the two. A small chapel built at the point where the River Tees was crossed by ferry. 18. St. Elfleda (7th Century). Daughter of the King of Northumbria who founded 12 monasteries in the area! 19. St. Aidan (died 651). He brought the Christian message to Northumbria from Iona. 20. James Cook. Installed in memory of Henry BOLCKOW (died 1947), his wife Bessy (died 1944) and their son Cuthbert (died 1944). Given by their daughter Dorothy who was the last of the Bolckows of Marton Hall.