The Glory of English Gothic Architecture

Saint Mary, Studley Royal by William Burges was built between 1871 and 1878. It is a masterpiece of High Victorian Gothic with an interior which is a visual delight.

The chancel and sanctuary are richly decorated with angelic hosts and golden lions.


This wonderful example of Anglo-Catholic architecture is often overshadowed by its neighbour Fountains Abbey but is well worth the 20 minute walk to see its interior delights

Saint Mary Studley Royal, Yorkshire

I love this photo because it has so many different aspects. Firstly it works for me just as a photo - the pattern and decoration is beautiful in this church. Secondly it is an unusual angle and it takes time to get to grips with it - I like that. Thirdly it conveys the concept of the liturgical hierarchy of the building - from right to left (west to east) there is a change from simplicity (the nave) through to controlled excitement (the Chancel choir) and then unadulterated exuberance (the sanctuary).

Definitely one of the buildings you need to see before you die....

See more of this church in a slideshow

See more Church Architecture in a slideshow

My Victorian Church Architecture UK group

William Burges on my del.icio.us

My most popular Victorian Church Architecture Photo

Organ Staircase at Saint Mary Studley Royal,Yorkshire by William Burges

My delicious notes on William Burges

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William Burges profile on Wikipedia

My Top 10 Most Popular Photos: No 1

ORGAN STAIRCASE ST. MARY'S STUDLEY

My Top 10 Most Popular Photos: No 2

Sanctuary Upshot Saint Mary's Studley Royal, Yorkshire UK

My Top 10 Most Popular Photos: No 5

Saint Mary's Studley Royal Yorkshire Interior HDR

Saint Mary's Studley Royal HDR

Here's an unusual angle of the beautiful church of Saint Mary's Studley Royal built by William Burgess. It has a remarkable interior and is under the care of the National Trust and English Heritage. You can go and see the building as a part of the Fountain's Abbey estate.

More on Saint Mary's and William Burgess
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Andy Marshall is a professional architectural photographer. Most images can be downloaded 24/7 at Alamy as stock photography

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Winged Lion of Judah

The winged Lion of Judah (claws n' all) looks upwards towards the wondrously decorated sanctuary dome of Saint Mary's Studley Royal Yorkshire UK

Andy Marshall is a professional architectural photographer. Most images can be downloaded 24/7 at Alamy

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The Golden Section

The Golden Section self evident in organ steps at St. Mary's Studley Yorkshire UK

Proportion, space and scale are an important factor in many buildings, and the most successful of them are a balanced mixture of all three elements. Several theories of proportion exist to illustrate how the implicit form of architecture can affect our senses by creating a meniscus of tension. Interestingly, the principles involved with most systems are similar, perhaps hinting at an innate value system of proportion in all of us, across all cultures.

The best known of these systems is the Golden Section, which is based upon a Pythagorean theory of ratio. The Collin's Dictionary describes the Golden Section as ' the proportion of the two divisions of a straight line such that the smaller is to the larger as the larger is to the sum of the two'

The Golden Section is self evident in the Parthenon

Even in the C20th Le Corbusier developed his own modular system which is based upon the Golden Mean. Summerson in his brilliant book Architecture in Britain 1530-1830 - says his work 'is so successful as a modern form of architecture because it holds within its genius loci the strings of form which link it tothe buildings of a past tradition'

Andy Marshall is a professional architectural photographer. Most images can be downloaded 24/7 at Alamy

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Architecture Week - Saint Mary's Studley UK

Today marks the beginning of architecture week in the UK. I'm predominantly an architectural photographer so I thought that I would celebrate the week with a series of images which I just simply love.

I do have an upshot tick - ie I just love to take wide angled shots of architectural detail and this one is no exception. This is a beautiful church which is now desanctified and in the hands of English Heritage. It was built at a huge cost and no expense spared for the 1st Marquess and Marchioness of Ripon as a memorial to their son who was murdered whilst on a tour of Europe. The architect was William Burges a remarkably eccentric Victorian architect. All over the interior he has left signs of his presence such as carved mice and birds.

Go see at the Fountains Abbey World Heritage Site. An average church cost £15,000 to build at the time - this one cost £50,000. Sumptuous. This is a shot of the Chancel ceiling which is based upon a building in Padua Italy - it represents the Glory of Heaven.

Andy Marshall is a professional architectural photographer. Most images can be downloaded 24/7 at Alamy

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All images are copyright Andy Marshall and must not be used without prior permission.