Church of St Mary the Virgin, Prestwich

The Church of St. Mary the Virgin is a Gothic Revival church built in red sandstone with a five-bay nave and three-bay chancel that form the main worship space. The structure includes an 86-foot tower topped with a battlement and pyramid-shaped roof that dominates the exterior and can be seen from surrounding streets.

The original structure dates back to 1450 when it was first built as a parish church. A local nobleman commissioned the tower around 1500 and added his coat of arms to the eastern side as a mark of his patronage.

The church serves as a place of reflection and remembrance where visitors notice inscriptions on the walls honoring the departed. The Wilton Chapel inside functions as a memorial space for those who died in both world wars and draws people seeking to pay their respects.

The church remains an active place of worship with regular services held throughout the week and on Sundays. Visitors planning to explore the interior should check opening hours ahead of time as times may vary depending on scheduled events and services.

The churchyard holds the graves of thousands of patients from a former psychiatric hospital that once operated nearby. This quiet cemetery tells the story of an institution that was once a major center for mental health care in the region.

Location: Bury

Inception: 15 century

Architects: Sharpe, Paley and Austin

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

Website: http://stmarysprestwich.org

GPS coordinates: 53.52940,-2.28660

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:08