St Mary’s Church: a guided tour

St Mary’s on Bridge Gate was the first big parish church designed by A. W. N. Pugin, the architect behind the interior of the Houses of Parliament. It opened in 1839, ten years after Catholic Emancipation, and was the first Catholic church built in Derby since the Reformation.

Jon’s tour takes you through the building and its story: Pugin’s design, the Lady Chapel added by his son, and the long feud with the church across the road whose spire was built to block the view.

• LengthAbout an hour
• Meeting pointSt Mary’s Church, Bridge Gate, Derby DE1 3AU
• AccessLevel access to the church. Seating available throughout.
• Who can comeAnyone. Join a listed tour, or arrange one for a group.
• CostFree on public dates, with donations to the church welcome. For groups, please ask.