The first Church in Boston Spa was built between 1812 – 1814, and dedicated to St Mary the Virgin. It was designed by the man who was actually the first baby to have been born in the village – Samuel Taite. It was a “Chapel of Ease” from the mother Parish of Bramham. The Spa (locally spelled and pronounced Spaw) prospered in those early years of the 19th Century – in 1850 “as many as 40 baths a day” were being taken at the Slipper Bath on the Riverside (A O Topham “A short History of Boston Spa”, 1948).
Such brisk business increased the permanent and temporary populations, and the Chapel needed enlarging by 1851 and a gallery was included to “accommodate the poor” (Mr Topham). Yet again, in 1871 more space was needed, and plans were drawn up (by Walter Parkinson, a Bradford Architect). Once again, building work commenced.
The Parish Magazines of the day (still held in the Church Archive) are full of appeals for the “Church Completion Fund”. There was a final spurt in the 1880’s possibly provoked by a letter from the Archbishop who was not impressed by the hotchpotch of buildings which St Mary’s presented at this time.
Finally, in 1884 the building we have today was finished, and the Clock (paid for by the Parish, not the Church) was delivered to Thorp Arch Station on 11th November 1884 and placed in the tower.
Various works have taken place since then – the Font has still not found a happy home, and has been moved around the building three times in living memory ! The Organ, formerly on the north side of the Chancel is now in the South Transept.
The main changes were in 1957 when the Sanctuary was enlarged, and the many steps were levelled out to give easier access to the Altar. The last phase of this major re-ordering was only completed in 2006, when the Altar was placed in the centre of the Chancel, and the choir moved into the north transept.
A first Church Room was built in 1967 – giving a toilet, kitchen and meeting space on site for the first time. A larger room was built at the west end in 1988 giving much larger facilities, and an Office for the Parish Administration.
The Church gives an impression of space, and is loosely in a late 13th Century style. There is some good Victorian Glass, especially the East Window, and there is a fine Victorian Reredos beneath it. Another feature are the many Angels – all different – carved onto the stone corbels which support the fine timber roof.
The Blessed Sacrament is reserved in the Sacrament Chapel – the former Organ chamber. The Altar in the Sacrament Chapel may well be the Altar from the first church of 1812. It was found in a derelict state in the boiler house and restored to its present condition by Francis Johnson, the Architect for the 1957 alterations, who also designed the Pulpit and Organ Case which date from 1957. St Mary’s is normally open every day until dusk. A booklet giving a fuller history of the Church is available in Church.
John Townend
St. Mary’s 1851
St. Mary’s 2005
A new booklet, “St. Mary The Virgin, Boston Spa -
