---
title: "Whitworth Parish Church"
description: "Located in Whitworth, County Durham. Built Mentioned 1183; nave 1808; chancel 1850. Diocese of Durham. Grade II. Gothic Revival style."
category: "Church"
tags: ["Church","Church of England","County Durham","Whitworth","Grade II","Shafto"]
canonical: "https://thebritishgazette.com/post/whitworth-parish-church-whitworth"
pubDate: "2026-09-06T03:06:06.940Z"
dateModified: "2026-09-07T14:54:23.873Z"
location: "Whitworth, County Durham"
country: "England"
county: "County Durham"
town: "Whitworth"
address: "Stanners Lane, Whitworth, County Durham, DL167QX"
postcode: "DL16 7QX"
built: "Mentioned 1183; nave 1808; chancel 1850"
denomination: "Church of England"
diocese: "Durham"
grade: "II"
style: "Gothic Revival"
openingHours: "Open 2pm to 5pm April to October on 1st Sunday in month and Bank Holidays. Open by appointment outside opening times."
parish: "Whitworth"
listEntryUrl: "https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1121448"
accessNotes: "Level access to the main areas"
---

# Whitworth Parish Church

Whitworth Parish Church stands on Stanners Lane in the grounds of Whitworth Park, Spennymoor, County Durham. It is a Grade II parish church in the Diocese of Durham.

## Overview

The church is first recorded in 1183 in the Boldon Book as a chapel of ease to Kirk Merrington. The nave was rebuilt in 1808 and the chancel added in 1850. A west bellcote sits on the gable; a north vestry door is dated 1930. Two pent shelters of 1935 at the west end house medieval effigies moved from the churchyard: a late thirteenth-century knight in mail, traditionally linked with Humez of Brancepeth, and a draped female figure. The chancel roof of 1888 and a Perpendicular-style reredos of 1895 are by Ralph Hedley of Newcastle. Stained glass includes a 1901 east window to the Revd E. A. Wilkinson and a 1920 west war memorial. Robert Shafto — ‘Bonnie Bobby Shafto’ — was born and buried here.

## Further Information

- [Historic England list entry 1121448](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1121448)