Wednesday 26 November 2014

St George's Minster, Doncaster

The great tower of St George's makes for a memorable view from trains passing through Doncaster, but, once in the town, this magnificent neo-Gothic Victorian building is surprisingly hard to find, not helped by the fact it is now cut off from the centre by an unpleasantly busy dual-carriageway.

The church was rebuilt after the mediaeval predecessor was burned down in 1853. It was rebuilt to designs by George Gilbert Scott - it is his largest town church. The tower is supposedly a replica of that lost in the fire, which dated from 1430; for the remainder Scott chose a robust Decorated style.

The impressively spacious interior has a cruciform layout, with big transepts, and aisles and clerestories to both nave and chancel. It is notable for excellent Victorian glass and a spectacular 5 manual organ by the renowned German organ builder Edmund Schulze (1824-1877). Other features of note include expansive encaustic tiled pavements in the chancel, an impressive marble font, and a huge stone pulpit with coloured marble columns.

St George's today fulfils the role of the town's civic church, and hosts concerts and other events. It is open every day for visits and private prayer, and has daily services and a Choral Eucharist on Sunday.

St George, Church Street, Doncaster DN1 1RD


Monday 3 November 2014