St Mary's Church, Glossop

Image: © Ian Dodds Taken: 3 Aug 2022

Having done a bit of online fact-finding about this place, I wish I had been nosier and given the door a little push, as the interior is very impressive indeed. On large-scale internet maps it goes by the name of 'St Mary's Roman Catholic Church'. Elsewhere, however, it is most often referred to as 'Church of St Mary Crowned', or something very similar. The 'Crowned' bit seems to be a reference to the pope once being the guy who authorized the coronations of the kings who took charge in states within his rough control. Since this church was built in the 1880s in what is described as a 'Gothic Revival' style by Historic England, I presume this official title is merely a nod to the former influence of the Catholic Church. This entrance is off Sumner Street, named after the Glossop cotton-milling family that provided the money to build not only this church, but also a school 30-odd years before which backs onto its grounds. They must have been swimming in money, as the church is notable for being very grand for its times and far taller than most of its generation. I did have a nose at the school, but didn't take a picture, which must mean that the original building has since been replaced by what is now a common or garden one. Of course, if I was wandering around Glossop in 2122, and the present school was still standing, it would then have warranted a picture with my historically-biased mindset; on reflection this is a reason for taking more pictures of things that look boring today.

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