Work on this Grade II listed church began in July 1913 and was completed three years later in July 1916. The work was carried out almost entirely by estate employees overseen by the 6th Duke of Portland’s Clerk of Works, D. McIntyre.
The architectural design is based on a Norman church in the hamlet of Steetley, Derbyshire. Some of the fittings were made by Scottish artists that were probably known to the Duke through his visits to the family estate in Caithness, Scotland. The ceiling was copied from Cessnock Castle in Ayrshire. A small stone brought from the ruins of Ypres Cathedral was built into the south wall near the pulpit to mark the estate’s losses during the First World War.
The pulpit was gifted by the 6th Duke of Portland and is made from wood originally used in the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, which was, in turn, made of oak from the Welbeck Estate. Ivy Cavendish-Bentinck, later 7th Duchess of Portland, gifted the ironwork on the church door. It was copied from a door at St Alban’s Cathedral.
The church contains two war memorials listing the names of those who died during the First and Second World Wars.
This Grade I listed parish church dates from the 12th century, with restoration in 1167, 1892 and 1907— the nave and upper tower date to the early 13th century. The church is remarkably long for this period, measuring 145 ft east to west and the nave 79 ft. There is a slab of black marble in the chancel which is reportedly the tomb of Robert Pierrepont, 1st Earl of Kingston-upon-Hull.
At the edge of the churchyard are the remains of Cuckney Castle, a listed Scheduled Monument built by Thomas de Cuckney.
For further information, please contact:
Reverend Dave Gough
The Vicarage
11 Poplar Close
Worksop
S80 3BZ (Postcode for church NG20 9NQ)
Tel: 01909 817 200
1st Sunday: 10.30am - Joint Service of Holy Communion at St Winifred's Church, Holbeck
2nd Sunday: 10.30am - Joint Service of Morning Prayer at St Mary's Church, Cuckney
3rd Sunday: 10.30am - Holy Communion at St Mary's Church, Cuckney & BCP Morning Sevice at St Winifred's, Holbeck
4th Sunday: 10.30am - Joint Service of Holy Communion at St Mary's Church, Cuckney
5th Sunday: 10.00am - Joint Café Church with St Annes, St Mary's & St Winifred's - please contact the office for the venue
2nd Wednesday: St Mary's Church, Cuckney
3rd Wednesday: St Winifred's, Holbeck
For further information or to be added to the Church mailing list, please email the office - stannesworksop@hotmail.com
Welbeck Abbey, within the heart of the estate, was founded as a monastery in 1153. After the dissolution of the monasteries, the Abbey was bought by Bess of Hardwick’s youngest son, Sir Charles Cavendish. It has since passed through the family and became the country seat to a succession of Dukes of Portland.
Discover the churches on the Welbeck Estate on either the Cuckney Water Meadows or Creswell Caves walking trails.
