Lychgate Restoration

Rededication of the Lych Gate

After the successful refurbishment of our wonderful Lych Gate (our is a Lych gate not a Lytch Gate according to records), we were delighted that Archdeacon Amanda was able to offer prayers of rededication at the gate after our service on Sunday 19th February. Those who were able joined to hear the prayers possibly to the puzzlement of passers by who must have wondered what was happening! A plaque has been ordered too commemorate the refurbishment and will be fitted by the maintenance team when it is available.

Restoring the lychgate

First built in 1897 for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee, the lychgate has been a Marton landmark ever since. Read more below of its history.

After 125 years, the lychgate has now been restored. You can give to support the restoration this Marton landmark and the church more generally by clicking here. (For non-digital giving options please see bottom of page).

How it looked before

Before the existing lychgate, there was a set of simple gates as this photograph from pre1897 shows.

The 1897 Campaign

Below are extracts from the Parish Magazine for Marton which show how the Lych Gate was originally built, how it fitted in to the celebrations of the Queen’s Jubilee and the response to it afterwards. There are photographs of the original magazine articles below the transcript.

May 1897 The Diamond Jubilee

Now that Easter is over and the merry month of May begun, we must be looking forward to taking some action to commemorate the Diamond Anniversary of the Queen’s Accession.
Her Majesty has no more loyal subjects than the inhabitants of Marton, and we shall not let the occasion pass without taking our share in the National rejoicings. What form these rejoicings take it is not for us to determine here. We will not insist upon a Peal of Bells for the Church or the erection of a Town Hall for the Parish Council, but we hope that there will be Sports, and a Tea drinking, and a meeting, and above all a good big blazing Bonfire, but it is only hopes we are expressing not being authorized to lay down any programme.
We suggest also as something permanent a Lych Gate for the Churchyard, or a Churchyard Cross, or as perhaps more within our means, a brass or table in the Church with an inscription commemorating the 60th year of Her Majesty’s Reign.

June 1897 The Queen’s Commemoration

On Monday May 17th, a meeting called by HWF Bolckow, Esq, the Chairman of the Parish Council, was held in the Schoolroom in order to consider what way the Parish should commemorate the 60th year of Her Majesty’s reign. The Chairman announced that Sir Raylton Dixon had most kindly placed in the hands of a special committee the sum of £25, in order to provide prizes for sports and fireworks, and that Lady Dixon would give a tea and medals to the children; an offer which we are sure will be accepted by all concerned with the greatest gratitude, as one more mark of the kindness and generosity which Sir Raylton and Lady Dixon have always shown to the parish of Marton.
The question was then discussed as to what part the parish itself should take in the commemoration, and after several suggestions had been made it was finally agreed to open a subscription for erecting a lych-gate to the churchyard which would no doubt bear a suitable inscription stating the purpose for which it was erected.
We consider this resolution a very satisfactory one. There should be no place that appeals so much to the affections of all as that sacred spot of ground, common to all creeds and faiths, in which lie the remains of those dear ones whom we have loved and lost, and any attempt to beautify it should be welcomed by all. That a good gateway in place of the present poor and common gates would be an immense improvement, must be admitted; and the improvement would be not only to the Churchyard but to the village itself, for it would stand by the high road plain for all folk to see, and thus be both an ornament to the place as well as a lasting memorial of the object for which it was erected.
We may here state that the Thanksgiving Services in Church are to take place on June 20th, the Sunday preceding the day of commemoration.

July 1897 The Diamond Jubilee

The great topic of last month, which has been occupying all our thoughts has been what is termed the Diamond Jubilee of Her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen. So much, however has been said on this subject in newspapers, journals and sermons that we shall not make any general reference to it here, but merely state that the occasion was observed right loyally in our own little village.
On Sunday June 20th, the day of the Accession, the Union Jack was seen for the first time, we believe, floating over Marton Church, the kind gift of Sir Raylton Dixon, and in the Church the Special Services issued by the Privy Council were duly performed. Special hymns, including the one written by the Bishop of Wakefield, being also excellently sung by the Choir, who had worked hard in learning the new tunes in the short time given them. Much interest was shown in the Service, and we feel sure that there was a sincere feeling of thankfulness in the hearts of many that we still have among us our good and noble Queen.
On the following Tuesday, the day of commemoration, the proceedings were as follows: - At 11.30 the Marton bells sent forth as joyous a peal as they were capable of giving, and no bells can do more than that. At 12-30 the children of the parish assembled in the Schoolroom, and after a few words from the Vicar and the singing of ‘God save the Queen’ were each presented by Miss Dixon with a very handsome medal commemorating the occasion – the gift of Lady Dixon, who herself was obliged to be in London with her Husband. In the afternoon, in the most perfect of perfect weather – it being a real Queen’s Day- was held in the cricket field a series of very interesting and well-contested sports, both for adults and children, lasting until late into the evening. At 5pm a tea was given to all the children, again through the liberality of Lady Dixon and after they had sung a very pretty Jubilee melody and “God save the Queen” their prizes were distributed by Miss Dixon, not only the winners, but every child receiving or being promised, something. At 7-30 the prizes for the adults were presented by Miss Dixon, the whole of these, together with the fireworks that followed, being bestowed by Sir Raylton Dixon. Votes of thanks to Sir R and Lady and Miss Dixon, and some others having been passed, this part of the proceedings terminated with another hearty burst of the National Antham. At about 10pm began a very beautiful display of fireworks, which lasted considerably over an hour, and gave much enjoyment; the strains of “God save the Queen” once more closing a very happy and long to be remembered day. It is known that the Parish Memorial is to be a lych-gate, which will, of course, taking some little time in erection.

August 1897 The Lych Gate

A good deal of interest has been taken in the proposed erection of a Lych Gate to the Churchyard, but some little disappointment expressed that more progress has not been made towards its completion. Perhaps we may be allowed to say that the want of progress arises from the time that subscriptions naturally take to come in from those outside the parish having interests in the Churchyard.
It is clear that the character of the Lych Gate cannot be determined until we know how much money can be spent upon it, and this policy of waiting a little has been justified by the reception of a substantial subscription of £25 from the family of the late Rev. Robert Machell, Vicar of Marton from 1855-1861, who lies buried in the Churchyard. This amount was forwarded to us by the Rev. Canon Machell, of York, for himself and brothers, in consideration that they hold a vault in the Churchyard.
The sum will be a great assistance, but we have not yet obtained all that is required for having got so far forward, we should not be content without making the Gate a really good one, and we look forward hopefully to further contributions.

December 1897 The Lych Gate

We fully believe that by the time this number of our Magazine appears, or shortly afterwards, that the New Lych Gate to the Churchyard will have been erected, and trust it will meet with the full approval of the parishioners.
It will be remembered that at a meeting, called by the Chairman of the Parish Council, some months ago, it was decided that the Parish should commemorate the 60th year of Her Majesty’s reign by such an erection, and accordingly steps were taken by the appointment of a Committee, to carry out that purpose. Mr Hicks, the well-known Church Architect, of Newcastle, has furnished the design; Mr Caldcleugh of Durham, has executed the woodwork; and Mr Joseph Coates the masonry; the Lych Gate is the result. As we are writing before the erection, we can express no opinion as to its appearance, but if it fulfils the hopes raised by its design, we venture to think that it will be a very tasteful addition to the Churchyard and Parish, and a worthy commemoration of this eventful year.
It will be observed that there is an inscription on the arch facing the road, which runs thus: -
“To the Glory of God and in Gratitude for 60 years of the Reign of Queen Victoria”
And another inscription on the other side, facing the Churchyard, as follows:-
“Erected by the Parishioners of Marton 1897”
The latter is indeed a continuation of the former, there not being sufficient space for both of them together.

Some people may want to know what is the meaning of a Lych Gate, and the answer is a “Corpse Gate”, lich being the old Saxon word for a corpse, it being a gate with a porch, under which the bier was rested while the introductory sentences of the Burial Service were being read. For a further description we can reefer those of our readers who follow the useful custom of keeping and binding our Magazine, to the August number of the year 1893, where an interesting description of Lych Gates with several illustrations are given.
The next question that naturally arises is how are we to celebrate the erection of our Lych Gate- for, of course, we shall all be proud of its possession. Well, there will, of course, be a Dedication Service arranged by the Vicar, particulars of which will be given later, and no doubt there will be some small parochial demonstration of some kind in its honour, but nothing yet has been arranged, and so we leave the matter for the present, congratulating ourselves that a satisfactory termination has been reached of the efforts made so loyally in Marton to erect a Memorial of the Queen’s reign.

The response when first erected

Again we have extracts from the Parish Magazine telling us what people (or the editor at least) thought about it.

January 1898 The Lych Gate

The Dedication of the new Lych Gate took place on Dec. 13 at half past three o’clock in the afternoon A special service, compiled for the occasion, was conducted by the Ven. W. R. Hutchings, Archdeacon of Cleveland, and consisted of the 121st Psalm, sung in procession from the Church to the Gate, appropriate prayers, and an address at the Gate itself, interspersed with the 428, 221, and the late Bishop of Wakefield’s Jubilee Hymns, all very well rendered by the Choir. The Clergy present on the occasion and taking part in the procession were – the Archdeacon, the Rev E.O. Herbert, Vicar of S. John’s Middlesbrough; the Rev. T.E. Linsay, Vicar of S. Paul’s; the Rev. J.G. Wood, Vicar of Ormesby; the Rev. E.F.S. Besly, Vicar of Eston; and the Vicar of the Parish. A considerable number of the parishioners were also present, and evidently very much interested in the proceedings.
In the evening a Service was held in the Church, as which an extremely eloquent sermon was preached by the Archdeacon. The congregation here was not quite so good as we could have wished. We may here say that we are sure that the parish will have heartily welcomed the presence of our new Archdeacon, and have recognised that we have in him one of the first preachers in the Diocese.
With regards to the Lych Gate itself, we can say now that it has been completed, that it fully bears out our anticipations. We consider it an extremely handsome and picturesque structure which would do credit to any churchyard, and a decided addition to the appearance of the village. The style of the gate was selected by a small sub-committee of the subscribers, who submitted a drawing to the architect, Mr W.S Hicks, based on a lych gate at Beckenham, and this drawing, with some slight modifications made by him, became the accepted design. We trust it may long stand as evidence of the loyalty of the parishioners of Marton and of the interest they take in their Church and its surroundings. One of the gratifying features of the erection of this lych gate is the number of the subscribers that have assisted, there being no less at present than ninety-six, all of these, with the exception of four, being residents in the old parish of Marton. The four referred to being the representatives of a late Vicar of Marton, the Rev. R Machell, who made the handsome donation of £25; Mr and Mrs E Joicey, of Blenkinsopp Hall, £5; Mr Dorman, who, though resident at Nunthorpe, owns fifty or sixty acres in the parish, £2 2s., and Mr. Mallory.
Another pleasing circumstance is that the subscription list includes the names of some of the principal Dissenters in the parish. It is hoped that this is not only a sign of good Will and loyalty to Her Majesty, but a recognition of the fact that the Parish Church is not the property of one denomination only, but of the whole parish, that it belongs to them as well as to their Church brethren in the sense that they have equal rights and privileges in it, and we need hardly say that we ourselves should be glad if they exercised them more fully. As it is, they have done what they could to make the erection of the Lych Gate a Parish Memorial.
We hope to publish the names of the subscribers next month

February 1898 The Lych Gate

We have much pleasure in publishing, at the request of the Lych Gate Committee, a balance- sheet of the sums of money received and expended by them, together with a list of the subscribers; and on their behalf we again thank all the contributors for their assistance, and can assure those of them who do not take our Magazine, but will receive a copy of this month’s issue, that a thoroughly satisfactory and artistic Lych Gate has been erected, which is a great addition to the Churchyard and village. It has been decided, we understand, that the small balance remaining shall be used in erecting one or two lamps to throw light upon the steps under the gate.

[A list of the subscribers with the amount they had given was also published - do not worry, we are not planning on doing the same! Whatever you can give to help restore this monument will be gratefully received and the amount kept confidential]

July 1898 Parochial

There is again little parochial news to record….
The Lych Gate, which reminds us of the greater events, is, we think, rather improved for wear, and will, doubtless, continue to improve as its newness fades away. It has certainly been greatly admired since its erection; only the other day a gentleman remarked to us that he considered it one of the prettiest things in Marton….

Modern Usage

Weddings

The lychgate is no longer used as a stopping place for coffins, but plays a role in weddings.

Traditionally in England, at the end of the wedding as the bride and groom leave the church the gates are closed (or where there is an absence of gates a rope is held across) by the local children and the couple have to pay them to let them pass.

Were you married at St Cuthbert’s, and did you have a photo taken under or by the Lychgate? We would love to hear your stories and see your photos, and if possible, add them to this page. Email ask@stcuthbertmarton.org.uk

How you can help

We are hoping to complete the restoration of the lychgate in time for its 125th birthday in December 2022. However, it will cost in the region of £30,000*.

If you would like to give towards restoring this Marton landmark, you can do so by clicking here or by dropping a labelled donation in to the St Cuthbert’s Parish Centre (cheques made payable to the PCC of Marton in Cleveland). If you are a tax payer and are willing for us to claim gift aid on your donation, please include your name, address and tell us you are happy to gift aid it.

If you have any memories or pictures of the Lychgate do let us know at ask@stcuthbertmarton.org.uk.

*Should we raise in excess of what is needed for the lychgate, any additional money raised will be put towards the upkeep of the churchyard and church.