St. Mary's Church, Wollaton Park

St. Mary's Church, Wollaton Park is a Grade II listed Church of England parish church in the Wollaton area of Nottingham, in the Diocese of Southwell and Nottingham. It is a rare example of a church built in the late 1930s, which makes it a quiet, interesting stop for anyone who likes twentieth-century architecture and local history.

What is St. Mary's Church in Wollaton Park?

St. Mary's is an active parish church standing in a residential district that grew up beside the former Wollaton Park estate. The building is protected as a Grade II listed structure, a status that recognises its architectural and historic value in England. Nottingham has many medieval churches, so a complete interwar church stands out as something different.

Why was the church built?

In 1924 the Middleton family sold the Wollaton Hall estate to Nottingham Corporation, and the land around the park was gradually developed for housing. New neighbourhoods needed new places of worship. Two churches were planned for the area: St. Barnabas, serving the Lenton Abbey estate, and St. Mary's in Wollaton Park.

Rainald Skipper, who became Vicar of Lenton in 1929, pushed for church buildings on the new estates. A temporary hall was put up quickly and officially opened in March 1930. Its cost was met by William Goodacre Player, a son of the founder of the Players tobacco business.

Who designed it and when was it built?

The permanent church and its hall were designed by T. Cecil Howitt, the architect also known for Nottingham's Council House. The foundation stone was laid on 24 July 1937, with Bishop Neville Talbot among the clergy taking part. The church was built between 1937 and 1939 and was endowed by Colonel W. G. Player, the same benefactor who had paid for the temporary hall.

St. Barnabas in Lenton Abbey shares its architect and its main benefactor, and the two were built at the same time. Visiting both gives a good picture of how the new suburbs were served in the years before the Second World War.

What can you see?

• Exterior: the church is built of buff brick under a tiled roof, giving it a restrained, solid look in keeping with its period.
• Interior: a coffered, barrel-vaulted wooden roof covers the nave.
• Fittings: original furnishings include a cubical ashlar font and a panelled pulpit.
• Stained glass: the windows date from 1937 and are the work of A. J. Dix of London.

Because the site was parkland before building began, the fabric of the church dates entirely from 1937-39, with no older remains incorporated.

Frequently asked questions

Is St. Mary's Church in Wollaton Park an old medieval church? No. It was built in 1937-39 and its fabric is entirely from that period.

Who designed it? T. Cecil Howitt, who also designed Nottingham's Council House.

Is it listed? Yes, it is a Grade II listed building.

Where is it? In the Wollaton area of Nottingham, close to Wollaton Park. The coordinates are roughly 52.9469, -1.1866.

Which other church is connected to it? St. Barnabas in Lenton Abbey, built at the same time by the same architect and benefactor.

Visiting tips

As a working parish church, it is best to check service times and opening arrangements locally before you go. Combine a visit with a walk in nearby Wollaton Park to see both the planned suburb and the historic estate that shaped it.