Shrine of Our Lady of the Crag

Shrine of Our Lady of the Crag

The Chapel was carved out of the rock in about 1408 by 'John the Mason', and is believed to be the third oldest wayside shrine in Britain. John was a local stonemason who worked in the nearby quarry and one day, his son was playing on the rocky cliff when there was a great downfall of stones and boulders. The father of the boy attributed his son's narrow escape from death as a miraculous intervention by the Virgin Mary and is said to have built the shrine in thanksgiving and dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin. In earlier times it was called "Saint Robert's Chapel", probably inaccurately, since it was constructed almost two centuries after the saint's death and may have been confused with Saint Robert's Cave, tucked away on the same riverbank further down Abbey Road. Today, the Chapel is owned by Ampleforth Abbey. It was given to the Abbey by John Martin, a Roman Catholic from Liverpool, who bought it in 1916. The R.C. parish of St. Mary's Knaresborough looks after it on the Abbey's behalf.

The Shrine Today

Today, the Chapel remains a very special sacred site. The shrine's significance has been recognised by national groups including World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and has been assisted in the form of grants as part of the Sacred Land 2000 Project (led by The International Consultancy on Religion, Education and Culture -ICOREC). A volunteer group comprising members of the parish of St. Mary's Church and the Knaresborough community was formed in 1997 in order to protect, preserve and improve the Chapel and grounds. Restoration work has been carried out to the Chapel window, door way and knight and work on the site includes the ongoing creation of medicinal and Marian gardens.

There are four set Masses a year to celebrate the Annunciation, the Visitation, Our Lady’s Birthday and the Immaculate Conception. These are usually on the nearest Saturday at 12 noon.

If the weather is inclement, the Mass will be held at St Mary’s R.C. Church 25 Bond End, Knaresborough HG5 9AW, at 12.30p.m. A notice will be placed on the gate as early as possible confirming the change of venue.

There are other masses or ecumenical services at other times, all Masses and changes to openings will be posted on the Google Map page.

Contact for further information or visits to the shrine outside the Sunday openings, can be requested via e-mail: cragchapel@btinternet.com;

by post: Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag, c/o St Mary’s Church, 25 Bond End, Knaresborough HG5 9AW.

By telephone: 01423 866080 – please identify that you are calling in regard to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag.

A major fundraising campaign was launched in 1997 to make improvements possible, but with little response. Most of these are in the process of being completed following in the main donations from the general public and a grant from Harrogate Borough Council.

In 1999, the Shrine was awarded a further grant by the Arts and Sacred Places Project, which was linked to the Millennium Commission. The culmination of this award was the Millennium Festival on 1st July 2000. The well-known Yorkshire sculptor, Ian Judd, sculpted a new statue of the Madonna and Child. The project involved the entire community of the town, and local school and community groups took part in art workshops and a poetry competition, inspired by the Shrine. An exhibition of art was mounted as part of the Millennium Festival.

The Shrine was given Blue Plaque status, and in 2008 celebrated its 600th anniversary with a series of events in the town.

Below are some of the pictures from the exhibition, the dedication of the statue and unveiling of the Blue Plaque.

Unveiling of Blue Plaque at the Shrine of Our Lady of the Crag

Knaresborough Civic Society's seventh Blue Plaque is sited at the entrance to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag on Abbey Road. On Saturday 13th October 2007 Father George, of St. Mary's Church, unveiled it in a ceremony attended by local dignitaries.

The plaque reads: In 1408 the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag was excavated by John the Mason traditionally in thanksgiving for his young son being miraculously saved from falling rock. Permission for the shrine was granted by King Henry IV.

The Abbott and Father Benedict with the new statue

The Abbott and Father Benedict together with the new statue

The new statue of Our Lady of the Crag

The Mayor of Knaresborough Cllr Julie Watkins opening the exhibition

A view of the exhibition

The sculptor, Ian Judd with the "model" for the Child