Church of St Andrew, Grinton

The Church of St Andrew, Grinton, is the parish church for the village of Grinton in North Yorkshire, England. The grade I listed structure has also been called The Cathedral of the Dales[note 1], and as the only parish church in Upper Swaledale, it was at the end of the Swaledale Corpse Way, where those who had died in the upper valley, were brought for burial. Grinton never developed past village status, but its noted crossing point of the River Swale afforded it more importance than other settlements.

Church of St Andrew, Grinton
St Andrew's Church
St Andrew's Church, Grinton
Church of St Andrew, Grinton
Location within North Yorkshire
54.3813°N 1.9304°W / 54.3813; -1.9304
OS grid referenceSE046984
LocationGrinton, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
DenominationChurch of England
WebsiteOfficial website
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Architectural typeNorman
Perpendicular
Decorated
Administration
ParishSwaledale with Arkengarthdale (460421)
BeneficeSwaledale with Arkengarthdale
DeaneryRichmond
ArchdeaconryRichmond and Craven
DioceseLeeds
Clergy
Vicar(s)Caroline Joan Hewlett
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated7 December 1966
Reference no.1301991

The church was built in the 12th century and has many alterations to its original Norman architecture. As the church was the only parish church in the area, for 400 years St Andrew's presided over the largest parish by area in Yorkshire. The church is notable for having a chained bible, a Jacobean pulpit with sounding board, and a hagioscope in the south wall. The church is also noted for being the most northerly of the "Pennine Perpendicular churches".

History

The church was built in the 12th century and was given to the Augustinian Priory of Bridlington, who owned much of the land surrounding Grinton after it was given to them in early 12th century by William de Gaunt.[3] Before the building of the church, the valley came under the same parish as Catterick, which Paulinus had established in the 7th century.[4] Whilst there is no firm evidence of such, it is believed that a Saxon place of worship existed on the site of St Andrews, and when the church was built, it was erected on the same site.[5][6] Originally, the church was staffed by the Augustinian monks, when it was referred to as Ecclesia de Swaledala,[7] but in the late 13th century, a vicar was appointed to be the parish priest. At the dissolution, the church became an asset of the Crown until 1890, when it became the property of the Bishop of Ripon.[8] It is now in the Diocese of Leeds.[9]

The building has had additions placed upon it in the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th centuries, with further modifications since then. It has a tower (facing west), a north aisle, a nave, a south aisle, a north chapel, a chancel, a south chapel, a vestry and a porch (south facing).[10] Pevsner called St Andrews a "low, grey, spreading Perpendicular church", whilst acknowledging that it contained the original Norman architecture and also Decorated stylings too.[11] The church is noted as being the most northerly of what has become to be termed the "Pennine Perpendicular churches."[12] Several churches exist in the Perpendicular style in Yorkshire, but the rest of the existing churches in the Pennines are in a different style.[13]

From the altar in the chancel, to the back of the tower, the length is 119 feet (36 m),[14] though the main body of the church is 89 feet (27 m) in length by 54 feet 4 inches (16.56 m) in width.[10] The church has a clerestory, but this only has windows in the south side.[15][note 2] The nave has a Jacobean pulpit, which was fitted with a sounding board in 1718 allowing for increase audibility.[17][18]

Another rarity is the hagioscope located in the south west wall.[19] A hagioscope, also known as a squint or as a leper's squint,[20] was used so that people could observe the process of worship without actually being there. Sometimes this was so concurrent activity with the service could be carried simultaneously, but it also allowed those with a communicable disease in the parish (such as leprosy), to witness the service without infecting the rest of the congregation.[21] The porch has grooves in its stonework which are thought to have been cut by men who were waiting for the lords to finish their church service before going out hunting.[22]

St Andrew's was renovated between 1895 and 1896 at a cost of £3,000, and was officially re-opened during Easter of 1896.[14] Previous to this, the church had box pews, but these were removed in the renovations in favour of normal pews.[23] Many of the medieval stained glass windows were kept during the renovations,[24] although some new windows were installed, including one by Charles Eamer Kempe, which is on the east side of the church.[25] At the same time, the bells were recast, the tower received a new clock,[26] and the Norman font was returned to the church.[27]

As St Andrew's was the parish church for all of Upper Swaledale, it was the only one to have consecrated ground. When the people of the upper dale (around Muker and Keld) wanted relatives burying, they had to carry the coffin the 12 miles (19 km) down to Grinton.[28] The route is now a recognised path known as the Swaledale Corpse Road. This practice ended in 1580 when a new church was built in Muker (St Mary's) which had consecrated ground. Even so, it would be another 300 years before Muker was given a parish of its own and the overall size of the Parish of Grinton was reduced.[29] Before this, Grinton Parish was the largest in Yorkshire for 400 years,[30] and was historically known as Swaledale with Grinton Parish, or Grinton-in-Swaledale.[31][32] As St Andrew's was the focal church in Upper Swaledale and a point of interest, it became known as The Cathedral of the Dales, a name that it is still referred to in modern times.[33]

The church has a colony of bats living in it, and as they are protected species, despite the damage caused, the community have taken on board their protected status and used the bats as an educational tool for schoolchildren.[34]

The church has a chained bible that was marked in 1752 with the following words; "for the use of the inhabitants of Grinton, 1752."[35] The habit of chaining books in churches was an old custom and a way for churchwardens to allow the church to keep hold of its property. A supposed edict by Henry VIII, ordered churches to have one chained bible on show, though there are instances of this happening before The Reformation. Another order by Edward VI stated that each church should "provide within three moneths one boke of the whole bible of the largest volume in English....to be sette upp in some convenient place within the churche[sic]."[36] Only two churches in the old North Riding of Yorkshire still had a chained bible by the turn of the 20th century; the other church was St Michael's at Kirklington.[37]

Listed structures

Besides the church itself, which is grade I listed,[38] there are three other listed structures associated with the church.

  • Blackburn Hall - grade II* listed - originally used by the monks from the Augustinian Priory at Bridlington as a house[39]
  • The Clarkson memorial in the churchyard - grade II listed[40]
  • The gates and gatepiers to the east of the church - grade II listed[41]

Parish and Benefice

St Andrew's is one of four churches in the ecclesiastical parish of Swaledale with Arkengarthdale (which is also the name of the Benefice). Weekly attendance at all four churches between 2009 and 2018 was just over 70 people across the whole parish.[42] The other three churches in the parish and benefice are: St Mary's in Muker, Holy Trinity in Low Row and St Mary's in Arkengarthdale.[43][44] The attendance statistics are drawn from all four churches, but not all have services running every Sunday.[45]

The church is used as a venue by some of the musical artists during the Swaledale Festival. The acoustics of the church are said to be good for performances.[46] St Andrews also features in an episode of the television programme All Creatures Great and Small. In it, Tristan goes bell-ringing in the church.[47]

Clergy
St Andrews Church, Grinton, Interior
Gate to St. Andrew, Grinton

Below is a list of vicars for the Church of St Andrew, Grinton.[8] The incumbent has also been the officiating clergy at other churches in the parish. The current incumbent is also the vicar for St Mary's, Muker, Holy Trinity at Low Row and St Mary's in Arkengarthdale.[48]

Year Incumbent Year Incumbent Year Incumbent
1272 Symon de Swaldal 1587 Henry Simpson 1892 David Walker[note 3]
1278 Adam 1623 George Simpson 1899 Joseph John Merry
1362 Symon de Nesse♦ 1634 Edward Norton 1907 Bertrand Gregory
1397 William de Darlington 1637 Thomas Gent[note 4] 1925 John Shaw Harrison
1411 Roger Ward 1658 Francis Atkinson 1930 Edward Norman Spear
1425 Thomas Swaldale 1673 Tobias West 1932 Gerald Farrington
1448 Roger Clyff 1717 Thomas Lightfoot 1938 Edward Somerset
1465 John Bramsfeld 1742 Timothy Dickinson[note 5] 1944 Herbert John Kingsley
1474 Nicholas Duke 1783 Thomas Jay[note 6] 1952 Charles William Clarke Richards
1524 John Smyth 1799 Thomas Edmondson 1959 Wilfrid Michael Case
1535 William Dowson 1822 Henry Burdett Worthington 1985 Peter Stanley Midwood
1564 Matthew Browne 1842 Elias Tardy 1998 Timothy Mark Tunley
1585 Alexander Stocks 1850 Charles Porter 2006 Caroline Joan Hewlett
1587 Henry Simpson 1855 Percy Smith
  • ♦Interregnum between incumbent and previous when dates are incorrect, period appears too long or records are incomplete.

Notes
  1. The name Cathedral of the Dales has also been used to describe the Church of St Michael the Archangel in Kirkby Malham.[1][2]
  2. Glynne claims the windows are on the north side.[16]
  3. Listed in some sources as David Walter.[49]
  4. Listed in the registers as Thomas Goad.[50]
  5. Listed in the parish registers as Timothy Dickonson.[50]
  6. Listed in the parish registers as Thomas Joy.[50]

References
  1. "'CATHEDRAL OF THE DALES' GIVES THANKS FOR RESTORATION". www.leeds.anglican.org. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  2. "My favourite churches - including the Cathedral of the Dales - by Bill Bryson". The Yorkshire Post. 24 March 2017. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  3. Speight 1897, p. 223.
  4. Jeeves, Paul (15 September 2013). "Immersed in history... baptisms are performed in saint's river". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  5. Speight 1897, p. 222.
  6. "Grinton". www.yorkshireguides.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  7. Thea, Nicholas (11 February 2011). "The last resting place for the Dales". Darlington and Stockton Times. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  8. "Genuki: Grinton parish:, Yorkshire (North Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  9. "The Benefice of Swaledale, Comprising Arkengarthdale, Grinton, Melbecks, and Muker". www.crockford.org.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. "Parishes: Grinton | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  11. Pevsner, Nikolaus (2002). Yorkshire, the North Riding. London: Yale University Press. p. 175. ISBN 0-300-09665-8.
  12. "Grinton" (PDF). outofoblivion.org.uk. p. 1. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  13. Hunter, John (1994). "Medieval Churches in West Yorkshire". Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. Leeds: Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. 66: 255. ISSN 0084-4276.
  14. Speight 1897, p. 231.
  15. Pevsner, Nikolaus (2002). Yorkshire, the North Riding. London: Yale University Press. p. 176. ISBN 0-300-09665-8.
  16. Glynne, Stephen (1900). "Notes on Yorkshire Churches". Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. Leeds: Yorkshire Archaeological Society. XV: 109. OCLC 6569551.
  17. "Genuki: GRINTON: Geographical and Historical information from the year 1890., Yorkshire (North Riding)". www.genuki.org.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  18. "Out of Oblivion: A landscape through time". www.outofoblivion.org.uk. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  19. Hartley, Marie; Ingilby, Joan (1991). The Yorkshire Dales. Otley: Smith Settle. p. 303. ISBN 1870071727.
  20. Jeeves, Paul (11 February 2020). "Long way to the bar". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  21. "Perhaps we are best rid of the cuckoo". The Northern Echo. 4 May 2001. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  22. Reid, Mark (18 August 2016). "Reeth, Grinton & Harkerside". The Northern Echo. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  23. "Restoration of Grinton Church (Swaledale)". York Herald (13, 411). 30 May 1894. p. 3.
  24. Nelson, Phillip (1913). Ancient painted glass in England 1170-1500. London: Methuen. p. 221. OCLC 473195330.
  25. "News of the churches". The Leeds Mercury (18, 088). 26 March 1896. p. 7.
  26. "North Country News". The Leeds Mercury (18, 090). 28 March 1896. p. 3.
  27. "The Cathedral of the Dales". yorkshiredales.org.uk. 31 July 2018. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  28. Belcher, Ian (10 April 2009). "Walking in the Yorkshire Dales: it'll all end in beers". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  29. Bibby, Andrew (2006). Wensleydale and Swaledale : the Northern Yorkshire Dales. London: Frances Lincoln. p. 84. ISBN 9780711225541.
  30. Bagshaw, Mike (2019). Yorkshire Dales : local, characterful guides to Britain's special places (2 ed.). Chalfont St Peter: Bradt. p. 117. ISBN 978-1-78477-609-1.
  31. Memoirs illustrative of the history and antiquities of the county and city of York 1846. London: J Murray. 1847. p. 57. OCLC 1006161586.
  32. "Parish Registers held in Local and Family History Complete List" (PDF). leeds.gov.uk. p. 23. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  33. Huddleston, Yvette (10 December 2010). "Cold comforts". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  34. Hewlett, Caroline (17 September 2015). "The passion of the bats". batconservationtrust.blogspot.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  35. Ker, Neil; Perkin, Michael, eds. (2004). A directory of the parochial libraries of the Church of England and the Church in Wales. London: Bibliographical Society. p. 223. ISBN 0948170131.
  36. Cox, John Charles; Harvey, Alfred (1908). English Church Furniture (2 ed.). London: Methuen & Co. pp. 336–338. OCLC 1109752.
  37. McCall, Hardy Bertram (1910). Richmondshire Churches. London: E Stock. p. 93. OCLC 6723132.
  38. Historic England. "Church of St Andrew  (Grade I) (1301991)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  39. Historic England. "Blackburn Hall  (Grade II*) (1130810)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  40. Historic England. "Clarkson Memorial Approximately 10 Metres from South-East Corner of Church of St Andrew  (Grade II) (1179369)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  41. Historic England. "Gates and Gatepiers to East of Church of St Andrew  (Grade II) (1318601)". National Heritage List for England. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  42. "Dashboard for the parish of Swaledale w Arkengarthdale in the Deanery of RICHMOND" (PDF). leeds.anglican.org. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  43. "Swaledale: St Andrew Grinton - A Church Near You". www.achurchnearyou.com. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  44. Burn, Chris (24 December 2019). "Meet the Yorkshire Dales vicars heading out on Christmas Eve safaris after year of flooding nightmare". The Yorkshire Post. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  45. "Swaledale Arkengarthdale Parish > Services & Events". www.swaledalearkengarthdaleparish.org.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  46. "Outstanding world music at Swaledale Festival". infoweb.newsbank.com. 6 May 2016. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  47. Stone, Barry (2016). The 50 greatest walks of the world. London: Icon Books. p. 48. ISBN 978-178578-063-9.
  48. "Swaledale: St Andrew Grinton - A Church Near You". www.achurchnearyou.com. Retrieved 10 February 2020.
  49. "Ecclesiastical News". York Herald (12, 784). 26 May 1892. p. 3.
  50. Slingsby, F William, ed. (1905). The registers of the parish church of Grinton in Swaledale, Co. York. Leeds: Yorkshire Parish Register Society. p. 63. OCLC 1052510022.

Sources
  • Speight, Harry (1897). Romantic Richmondshire: Being a complete account of the history, antiquities and scenery of the picturesque valleys of the Swale and Yore. London: E Stock. OCLC 252008733.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
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