All Saints Church - Wold Newton

We can all thank Norman William for this rare gem of a church. It was built on the blood of his ‘Harrying of the North’ and his consequent guilt. Worried about his immortal soul, he gave extra land for churches. William’s nephew, Gilbert de Grant, held the land around here. He founded All Saints’, Hunmanby, and then ‘daughter’ churches, of which Wold Newton’s is one.

The original, simple church was completed by the turn of the century and so links closely to the establishment of the Norman rule. It is classed as a Grade 2* listed, unique, stone building. Refurbished by the Victorians.

Its undeniably magnificent and unique feature is the tympanum of the fine (quite untouched) Norman doorway. The lozenge pattern is indicative of the very early years of Stephen’s reign (1135 – 1154) and was probably engraved as the church grew in importance. Look for the wonderful goose engraved on the left-hand column. Geese were important in this area (Grindale references geese as does Kirby Grindalythe).

There is a Priest’s door on the South side of the Chancel, which also acted as a ‘Lepers’ Door’ where those afflicted could worship and see the altar.

An unusual feature is the small bell tower, which is clad in wooden shingle (rare for the North of England). There are just the 2 bells, but they are of great interest. The treble bell is blank, but is typical of the 17th Century and is listed by the Church Building Council as ‘worthy of preservation’. The tenor bell is dated 1694 and carries the badge of Samuel Smith. Samuel Smith 1 cast bells between 1671 and 1709 and worked at Toft Green, York. It is inscribed ‘GLORIA()IN() ALTIS-SIMIS()DEO()1694.

The font dates from the 12th Century. It is a simple tub design, with ropework near the rim and zig-zag patterns interspersed with foliage.

The mainly stained-glass windows are also notable; some are by Kempe & Co., the pre-eminent, Victorian firm, whose trademark was a wheatsheaf. They produced a beautiful small window in the Chancel depicting St. Cecilia, patron saint of musicians. It is dedicated to a very long-serving organist and music organiser.

The church is very fortunate in that it resisted the modernisers of the 1970s and 1980s and managed to retain its pipe organ (now with an electric pumping system!). This organ is a rare example built by Hopkins and Co. of York in 1901 – it is thought that their total of built organs is less than 10 – and it has been visited and played by musicians from all over the country.

There is so much else of note and ‘need to see’ in this small church that a visit is essential. Memorial plaques, the probably unique War Memorial in the porch, and an ancient Royal coat of Arms plus boards bearing the Lord’s Prayer & the Ten Commandments on the West wall.

Outside, the nearest gravestone to the porch marks the resting place of John Shipley. He was the shepherd who was plastered with mud and grass when, in December 1795, a huge meteorite smashed into the earth a few feet away from him. This began space exploration as the track of the meteorite proved for the first time that it came from outer space!

The antiquity of the church combines with the care and work of churchgoers and the wider village to keep it in good repair and available as a community space. It houses the ‘book swap’ as well as holding church services and is kept open for visiting and community use by a large rota of villagers. It is a living church.

The last few years have seen the collapse of the vestry floor in the North aisle (a Victorian addition) and its replacement as a new space with kitchen facilities, a modern and efficient boiler and the creation of a space for a W.C., accessed from outside. This has taken a great deal of dedicated work and generosity from so many sources and people. The next stage is to raise the funds to enable the W.C. to become functional.

Those reading this who are aged under 30 years of age have a chance of celebrating the 1,000th anniversary of the founding of this wonderful little centre of worship in the Wolds!

So much more to see, such an ancient ambience to experience. You are welcome here.

Margaret M.G. Tansley

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