The Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag
Charity No. 1171904
The tiny medieval Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag lies a stone's throw from the River Nidd, about half a mile from the centre of Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. It was carved from the cliff face by John the Mason in 1408, permission being granted by King Henry IV. The Chapel was probably built as a wayside shrine for pilgrims walking between the town and the Priory, and possibly going further afield. It would also have been a place of quiet and prayer for the quarrymen working in the quarry nearby.
About
The 2026 season for opening regularly on a Sunday afternoon from 2 until 4 p.m. will begin on Easter Sunday, 5th April. The end of the season is 27th September.
The Chapel has featured in a recent Radio York podcast! You can listen to it here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0myv6dg
There are already several organised pilgrimages and visits for 2026. If you want to organise a visit, please contact us via the 'Contact us' form or using the e-mail address, contact@ourladyofthecrag.org.
The world is going through a very difficult and turbulent time. The need for prayer has never been greater. The Chapel is a beautiful and appropriate place for prayer, and Mary is the Queen of Peace. Bishop Marcus Stock of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Leeds identified the Chapel of Our Lady of the Crag as a place of pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year 2025.
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But we also welcome visitors of all faiths and none as, in addition to being a notable Marian shrine, the Chapel is a site of heritage and local history. We look forward to welcoming you.​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Events
About
Sunday Opening
Sundays, 2-4 p.m. throughout the Summer months (April to September inclusive).
Services
The Chapel is open to requests for services to be arranged - for all denominations and faiths.
Fundraising
Donations are thankfully received. Projects for the future include tree planting, and making the steps above the chapel accessible.