St. Mary's Church, Wollaton Park, Nottingham

Saint Mary's Church, Wollaton Park, is a Church of England parish church located just off Derby Road in the Wollaton area of Nottingham. It was designed by prominent Nottingham architect Thomas Cecil Howitt-best known for civic buildings like the Council House-and was completed between 1937 and 1939. Howitt himself worshipped here after its construction, and the church remains one of the city's notable examples of interwar ecclesiastical architecture.

Built in response to the expansion of Nottingham's suburbs after the sale of Wollaton Park by the Middleton family to the city corporation, the church served the growing residential area that emerged as part of a planned garden suburb. This urban development, alongside the establishment of the nearby Lenton Abbey estate, created the need for new places of worship. Saint Mary's and the nearby Saint Barnabas were constructed to meet this demand.

Originally, Saint Mary's was a chapel-of-ease served by clergy from Holy Trinity Church in Lenton. However, by 1957, it had gained independent parish status, reflecting the growth of its congregation and local significance.

Architecturally, the church features a simple and harmonious design, with an aisleless nave and chancel unified under a barrel-vaulted roof. The structure includes north and south porches at the west end, and a small vestry and corresponding room toward the eastern side. Red brick is the dominant building material, accented with minimal stone dressings, giving the church a warm, understated character.

Saint Mary’s is known for being a lively and inclusive worship community, drawing people from varied backgrounds and age groups. It remains a place of spiritual and social gathering in the heart of Wollaton Park.