The Lady Chapel of Mount Grace

The Lady Chapel of Mount Grace at Osmotherley

Following the dedication of the new Church of St Margaret Clitherow by Bishop John Crowley, Monsignor Charlton and the Catholic community in Great Ayton were delighted to welcome many members of the Village of all denominations to the Open Day on the 9th February.

One of the local places associated with St Margaret Clitherow is the Lady Chapel at Mount Grace, above Osmotherley. The Lady Chapel has been a place of pilgrimage since medieval times and is a haven of peace and quiet reflection for all. Each year many people continue to come to this sacred site. The Chapel has been closed for the past year – one of the many victims of the Foot and Mouth epidemic – but it is now open again to the public.

A mystery surrounds the chapel – why was it first built? Who built it?

The contents of a grave found under the chapel floor clearly indicate the Tudor burial of some special person. The Lady Chapel was rediscovered (its origin is unknown) in June 1942 during an air raid, by two young priests, Fathers Peter Storey and Michael O’Sullivan. Fr Peter Storey later served as the Parish Priest in Stokesley and Great Ayton.

The earliest records of the Chapel’s existence are lost to eternity, though archaeologists are still looking for evidence. It was certainly established by 1476, but the spring around which it is built may have been consecrated and venerated centuries before.

Although originally a Carthusian foundation, the Lady Chapel has in recent years been cared for by the Benedictine monks from the nearby Monastery in Osmotherley. The monks continue to work tirelessly, offering hospitality to pilgrims who master the hill to reach the Chapel at the summit.

Fr Anthony Storey has recently published a history of the Chapel incorporating much of the earlier research undertaken by his brother, Fr Peter Storey. If you have a moment, you might wish to visit it yourself. The walk up the hill from Osmotherley takes around half an hour and provides spectacular views.

P. Scrope