Beverley St Mary's Church guided tours and visits to the bell tower
St Mary's Church, North Bar Within, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 8DL
St Mary's Beverley is one of the two amazing Grade I listed churches that dominate this ancient market town. It was established around 1150 as a chapel dependent on the Minster and it served those who lived and worked at the north end of the town. From the exterior it looks like a medieval church, but in reality much of the church ‘fell down’ in 1520, and the restoration of the western part, completed in 1531 (the date on the huge font), was a Tudor achievement, with some of those who funded this recorded in carvings above the nave pillars, the most famous being the Minstrels’ pillar near the pulpit. Further east, in the choir, are 15th century seats, called misericords, with carvings of angels, legendary stories and even an elephant. Overhead is the famous ceiling of kings of England, first painted in 1445.
The magnificence of St Mary’s Beverley reflects the town’s wealth through its merchants and their trade, mainly in wool and cloth. Recent restoration work focused on the hundreds of carvings in the panelled timber ceilings, and new stone images outside on both sides of the nave. Take a tour round the church (Friday 6th September at 11.30 and Saturday 7th September at 13.00) or climb the bell tower (Saturday 7th September): St Mary’s is a wonderful place, and there is always something more to find.
Timings & Tours
- Friday 12 September:
- Church open 1100 to 1600 with tour at 1300; Bell Tower tour 14-30; Priests Room open 1400 to 1600
- Saturday 13 September:
- 1100 to 1500 Church open
- Sunday 14 September:
- 1300 to 1600 events for children
- Monday 15 September:
- 1100 to 1500 Church open
- Tuesday 16 September:
- Church open 1100 to 1600
- Wednesday 17 September:
- 1100 to 1500 Church open
- Thursday 18 September:
- 1100 to 1500 Church open
- Saturday 20 September:
- Church open 1100 to 1600 with tour at 1115; Bell Tower tours at 1030, 1130, 1315, 1415; Priests Room open 1400 to 1600
Location & directions
St Mary's Church, North Bar Within, Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU17 8DL
- Directions:
- Located in North Bar Within opposite the Beverley Arms Hotel
- Contact on day:
- Carole Crossland
- Telephone number:
- +447968280649
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking required
- Booking conditions:
- For church and bell tower tours please book with the St Mary’s office.
- Booking contact name:
- Gill Gregory
- Booking telephone number:
- +441482869137
- Booking email:
- [email protected]
- Booking opens:
- 01 Jul 2025 12:00 AM
- Booking closes:
- 10 Sep 2025 12:00 AM
Accessibility details
There are some uneven floors and steps inside with ramps inside the church. The bell tower tour involves climbing a spiral staircase and may not be suitable for all.
Additional information
Please note that entry to the bell tower is via a spiral stone staircase, which is uneven in parts. There are 77 steps to the Ringing Chamber. For more information about St Mary's please visit 'https://ww.stmarysbeverley.org'
- Est. tour duration:
- 1 hour(s) 0 minute(s)
