Church of Christ the Consoler

The Church of Christ the Consoler is a Victorian Gothic Revival church built in the Early English style by William Burges.[1] It is located in the grounds of Newby Hall at Skelton-on-Ure, in North Yorkshire, England. Burges was commissioned by George Robinson, 1st Marquess of Ripon, to build it as a tribute to the Marquess' brother-in-law, Frederick Vyner.[1] The church is a Grade I listed building as of 6 March 1967,[2] and was vested in the Churches Conservation Trust on 14 December 1991.[3][4]

Christ the Consoler
Church of Christ the Consoler
Christ the Consoler, Skelton on Ure
LocationSkelton-cum-Newby, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
DenominationAnglican
History
StatusIn the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
FoundedJune 1870
Architecture
Heritage designationListed building – Grade I
Architect(s)William Burges
Architectural typeGothic Revival
StyleEarly English
Administration
ParishNewby with Mulwith

History

Frederick Vyner was "taken prisoner by Greek brigands in the neighbourhood of Athens April 11th 1870 and murdered by them April 21st."[5] A significant ransom had been demanded, and in part collected, before his murder. Frederick's mother, Lady Mary Vyner determined that the unused funds would be used to construct a memorial church on her Yorkshire estate, his sister, Lady Ripon, embarking on an identical project, building St Mary's Church on her estate at Studley Royal. Burges obtained the commissions for both churches in 1870, perhaps because of the connection between his greatest patron, John Crichton-Stuart, 3rd Marquess of Bute, and Vyner, who had been friends at Oxford. The construction of the Church of Christ the Consoler began in 1871 and the church was complete by 1876.[1]

Architecture and description

The exterior is constructed of grey Catraig stone, with Morcar stone for the mouldings and is in an Early English style.[2] The interior is faced with white limestone and exceptionally rich,[2] with members of Burges' favourite team, Thomas Nicholls and Lonsdale, contributing. It is particularly interesting as representing an architectural move from Burges' favourite Early French style to an English inspiration.[6] Pevsner describes it thus: "Of determined originality, the impression is one of great opulence, even if of a somewhat elephantine calibre." [1]

In 2007, architectural historian James Stevens Curl mentioned the church among five worthwhile buildings where "it is still possible to experience something of the Victorian mastery of colour, detail, and architectural grandeur", along with the palace of Westminster, Westminster Cathedral, All Saints' Church on Margaret Street and All Saints' Church in Maidenhead.[7]

See also

Notes
  1. Pevsner 1967, p. 484.
  2. Historic England, "Church of Christ the Consoler, with Eleanor Cross to East, Newby With Mulwith (1315406)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 19 February 2012
  3. Diocese of Ripon and Leeds: All Schemes (PDF), Church Commissioners/Statistics, Church of England, 2010, p. 5, retrieved 3 April 2011
  4. Church of Christ the Consoler, Skelton-cum-Newby, North Yorkshire, Churches Conservation Trust, retrieved 18 October 2016
  5. Memorial tablet to Frederick Vyner in York Minster
  6. Crook 2013, p. 207.
  7. James Stevens Curl, Victorian Architecture: Diversity & Invention, Reading, Spire Books, 2007, p. 560-561.

References
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