Trailblazer 1️⃣0️⃣: Mary Ward
Listen to Mary Ward's Story
About The Sculpture
Find me at: The Bar Convent Living Heritage Site
W3W: ///healers.behave.stud
Researched by: All Saints School and The Bar Convent
Designed by: Jen Dring
Mary Ward (1585-1645) was a visionary Yorkshire woman who revolutionized education for girls in England. Despite societal and religious restrictions, Mary dedicated her life to providing equal education opportunities for girls, believing "there is no such difference between men and women that women may not do great things."
Mary faced significant challenges, including the Church's opposition to her unenclosed religious order, which allowed nuns to work outside convent walls. Her schools were shut down, and she was imprisoned. After her release, she returned to York, continuing her mission until her death in 1645.
Her legacy endures through the order she founded, which opened the first school for girls in London in 1669 and the second in York in 1686 here at the Bar Convent. Today, the Bar Convent in York is the oldest living convent in the UK, with around 200 schools worldwide continuing her mission.
Mary Ward's contributions are celebrated globally, yet many in York remain unaware of her remarkable achievements. Visit our exhibition to find out more!
Meet The Artist
Jen Dring
Jen is a printmaker living and working in York, and enjoys creating both linocut and collagraph prints. Her work is inspired by her faith, everyday experiences, moments in nature and places she feels a connection to. She takes on bespoke commissions as well as using her teaching skills to offer linocut and tetra pak workshops.
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Explore all 17 York Trailblazers, discover how they influenced York's history, and learn about the artists who brought their stories to life.
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Get to know the talented artists behind the sculptures and see how they artfully integrated the trailblazers' lives onto the Tansy Beetle.
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CRESCENGO - The Jewels of York ▸
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Metalwork Creations ▸
Learn more about Tom Springett of Metalwork Creations, the production company behind the beetles, who bring a rich background of metalwork that has seen an international audience.
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Women and Diversity in Ancient and Tudor York ▸
An extra trail for those wanting to discover more inspiring women of York and the learn about the diversity of the city.
Discover the York Trailblazers: A Deep Dive into Their Stories ▸
This blog offers a deep dive into York Trailblazers sculpture trail, exploring the rich histories of Trailblazers like Anne Lister and W. H. Auden, and their lasting impact.