Facilities and features

Accessibility

Ground floor toilets, including facilities for the disabled

Baby Changing Facilities

The car park is up the drive, to the left of the church.

There is a toilet for the disabled.

Autism or Asperger Aware / Accessible

The car park is up the drive, to the left of the church. You can also park by the south porch, especially if wheel chair access is needed.

A defibrillator is available in the north aisle.

There is a level entrance to the south porch, and ramped access to the Upper Hall on the north side

Hearing (induction) Loop

Large print service books, Bibles and hymn books are available for use.

Assistance dogs are welcome.

St Mary's has a Mental Health Champion.

Gluten free refreshments are available on request.

We cater for the blind and partially sighted

The car park is up the drive, to the left of the church. You can also park by the south porch, especially if wheel chair access is needed. There is an outside ramp to access the Upper Hall and a lift inside the church.


Our Building

The church has many beautiful stained glass windows.

people are welcome to pray in church when the building is in use.

The present building is Grade II listed. The original church in Bulwell was medieval. It is believed to have been built in 1134 but there is no firm evidence for this. A church in Bulwell is mentioned in 1203 when it was given by the King to Rott de Pickering for life. In the 1760s, extensive rebuilding of the church took place. Two aisles were added in 1766 and a rectory was built in 1772. A wall was built around the churchyard and a gallery was added. In 1800, the tile roof was replaced with slate and a tower was raised. In the late 1840s it was decided to demolish the old church and build a new one. This work was started in 1850 and completed in 1851. The new building was consecrated by the Bishop of Lincoln. The church was designed by the Derby architect Henry Isaac Stevens and built at a cost £3000. The church included a chancel, nave, aisles, and an embattled west tower. Only two of the three bells of the old church survived. These were recast by Taylor of Loughborough and are part of a set of six bells that were installed in 1860. The octagonal pulpit was installed in 1891. It is made of Caen stone, with small pillars of Derbyshire marble. In 1899 a dedicated organ chamber was built at the east end of the south aisle. In 1900 a reredos made of alabaster was placed behind the altar. A new baptistery was built in 1956 and a new canopy was constructed for the font. In the 1960s a number of improvements were made including an electrical heater, new oak altar rails, a vestry door and chancel paving. In 1964 a reredos was donated for the altar in St George's Chapel by Stanley and Olive Thomas. It is the work of Robert Thompson, the well known 'Mouseman' of Kilburn in North Yorkshire.

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]


Music and Worship

There is a fine ring of 8 bells. The Tower Captain is Mr Robert Naylor, who can be contacted on 0115 916 1787.

The church building has excellent acoustics and is a sought after venue for brass bands, organ recitals, jazz bands etc.

The present organ dates from 1872, and was made by the firm of Forster & Andrews. It has occupied several positions in the Church over the last 145 years but is now situated in a chamber on the southern side of the Chancel. It originally had two manuals and pedals, with 22 speaking stops and couplers, but in 2005 a large bequest made it possible to overhaul the instrument and enlarge it to have three manuals with pedals and 37 speaking stops, benefitting from an increased range of couplers as well as a piston control system. The work was carried out by Jonathan Wallace and his team from Henry Groves and Son Ltd., of Nottingham. It is now regarded by many as being of cathedral standard, and frequent recitals and concerts are given deploying the full capability of the instrument. There is currently a team of three organists playing for the Church’s range of services, led by Michael Anthony.

There is a regular service of Holy Communion (Book of Common Prayer) 9.30am on the first Thursday of the month. Vestments are worn and there is a brief homily. The service takes place in Lady Chapel (north aisle).

St Mary's has a growing choir, open to all ages.


Groups, Courses and Activities

St Mary's holds a regular time of Bible Study/Nurture Courses 2pm each Thursday.

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

St Mary's holds a regular time of Bible Study/Nurture Courses 2pm each Thursday.

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

Beavers

St Mary's holds a regular time of Bible Study/Nurture Courses 2pm each Thursday.

Brownies

St Mary's holds a regular time of Bible Study/Nurture Courses 2pm each Thursday.

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

Cubs

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

St Mary's holds a regular time of Bible Study/Nurture Courses 2pm each Thursday.

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

St Mary's has a Mental Health Champion.

Messy Church meets every second Sunday of the month 3-5pm. Messy Church is for all the family, and comprises a time for arts & crafts, followed by an informal God slot and a meal.

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

There is an excellent Children's Corner inside church.

St Mary's holds a regular time of Bible Study/Nurture Courses 2pm each Thursday.

Rainbows

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

Scouts

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]


Help for Visitors

Wifi is available inside the church upon request.

We welcome tours around the church building at a mutually convenient time, or whenever the church is open.

Guide books and Christian literature are available at the back of church

Church Open

St Mary's welcomes Guide Dogs and Assistance Dogs.


Other Features

FairTrade

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

Audio-Visual Facilities
Urban Priority Area

Support is available via the Foodbank 1-3pm each Wednesday in church, or contact 0115 975 1825 [email protected]

The Western Room and Upper Hall can be used for a reasonable donation

Fr Andrew is pleased to bless couples, including those who are in a civil same-sex marriage or civil same-sex partnership.