For more information about Yorkshire's churches, see Hidden Churches of Yorkshire, by Louise Simmons.

Rarely referenced in guidebooks, parish churches are often overlooked jewels offering a wealth of history. Many date from the 12th century (and may incorporate earlier elements); stunning stained glass windows are a common feature. Most are open to visitors, but are often kept locked, so that you will have to hunt down whoever holds the key. (Check the notice board by the door to find out how to call.) Such churches (and their churchyards) are also a wonderful source of information to genealogists.

	St. Oswald's Church (19th century) Arncliffe, North Yorkshire Romantically situated beside the lively River Skirfare, this is a harmonious building of 1841, on Norman foundations and retaining a 15th century tower. Inside is a soldier's pike and a list of the Men of Littondale who fought at Flodden. Charles Kingsley wrote part of Water Babies at Bridge House nearby. Bishop John Robinson, well-known as author of Honest to God, was buried here in 1983. http://www.daelnet.co.uk/features/churches/wharfe/arnclife.htm
	Epiphany Church (19th century) Austwick, North Yorkshire The uncompromising exterior of this chapel, built as a lecture hall in 1839, belies the charm and interest to be found within. There is much good 19th and 20th century glass, including a delightful recent rose window -- a delicate composition of wild flowers, butterflies and local scenes. http://www.daelnet.co.uk/features/churches/3peaks/austwick.htm
	St. Gregory's Church (12th-14th century) Bedale, North Yorkshire A church has stood on the site of St. Gregory's for over a thousand years. The Domesday Survey (1085) records a church at Bedale, in the Harrying of the North ordered by William the Conqueror in 1069 - 1070 no house was left standing between York and Durham. Most of the churches suffered the same fate. Bedale however possessed a stone-built church of the ninth century on the site of the present nave and this must have survived. In 1200 the small pre-Conquest Chancel was extended eastwards to the line of the present altar rail. Soon afterwards an arcade of two bays was opened in the south wall of this Chancel and a side Lady Chapel was built. http://www.bedale-parish.org.uk/
	St. James Church Birstwith, North Yorkshire This beautiful Victorian church stands on a hill looking over the tiny village of Birstwith through which runs the river Nidd. Built in 1857 by John Greenwood, it boasts a 100-ft spire, some splendid stained glass, a Binns organ, that has recently been fully restored by John Clough and Son, and an unusual and striking reredos of alabaster and glass mosaic. http://www.harrogate.co.uk/stjames/
	All Saints Church (12th century) Broughton, North Yorkshire With 850 years of Christian history behind it and fascinating connections with Bolton Priory, the Pilgrimage of Grace and the Tempest family, this lovely and much-cherished church is unforgettable for its atmosphere of antiquity and holiness. Being equidistant from the two villages it serves, it is approached along a winding country lane, but contains beauties and rarities too numerous to list, in wood, metal and stone, spanning the centuries to the present day. http://www.daelnet.co.uk/features/churches/skptpend/broughtn.htm
	Church of St. Mary the Blessed Virgin (19th century) Burley-in-Wharfedale, North Yorkshire Burley-in-Wharfedale is a growing commuter village at the bottom end of wonderful Wharfedale, in the Yorkshire Dales. St. Mary's is tucked away on the sharp bend going out of the village, opposite the Village Green. There has been a church on this site for hundreds of years, but the present church was opened in 1843 so is 161 years old. http://www.bradford.anglican.org/burley/index.htm
	St. Leonard's Church (14th century) Chapel-le-Dale, North Yorkshire St Leonards Church is the oldest building in the Dale but its history is little known and development since the 14th Century obscure. The church is an important local heritage site valued by the community and much visited by tourists. The churchyard is particularly important because of its associations with the building of the Settle-Carlisle Railway in the 1870's. It is the only community building in the Dale. St Leonards Church Heritage Project
	St. James Church (19th century) Clapham, North Yorkshire At the head of this famous village, sited dramatically on the Craven Fault, stands the lofty, spacious Parish Church, largely rebuilt in 1814 in Gothic style, but retaining its fine Perpendicular tower. The ends of the former Jacobean pews now panel the walls. http://www.daelnet.co.uk/features/churches/3peaks/clapham.htm
	St. Alkelda Church (12th century) Giggleswick, North Yorkshire The present building dates mostly from the 15th century, but carved stones discovered during the restoration of 1890-2 indicated that a building existed on the site before the Norman Conquest. Certainly, both the exterior and interior of the church and its tranquil, beautiful setting convey to regular worshippers and visitors alike an atmosphere of prayer and worship rooted in many centuries of dedicated practice. If the stones could speak they would tell of the violent days of the Scottish raids when, during the 14th century, the church was burnt down, and of the Wars of the Roses -- the body of Sir Richard Tempest (c1425-88) knighted at the battle of Wakefield in 1460, lies buried with the head of his favourite charger, in a vault of the church. http://www.daelnet.co.uk/local/churches/giggleswick/alkelda/index.htm
Photo courtesy of Skipton Web	St. Oswald's Church (14th century) Horton-in-Ribblesdale, North Yorkshire St Oswald's Church, is a squat-towered monolith, with a Norman doorway and nave arcades. Lychgates to its churchyard are roofed with huge slabs of the ancient Horton slates. http://www.skiptonweb.co.uk/tourist/nearby_villages/horton.htm
	St. Michael & All Angels Church (15th century) Hubberholme, North Yorkshire The Parish Church of St. Michael and All Angels was originally a forest chapel of St. Oswald of Huberham (from which Hubberholme is derived) dating from before 1241. Prior to the church an Anglo-Norse burial ground lay on the site. The roof loft is one of only two surviving examples in Yorkshire. A mile and a half (2.5km) after Hubberhome Langstrothdale and Wharfedale merge at Buckden. http://freespace.virgin.net/gregory.collins/wharfedale/langstrothdale.html
	St. Mary's Church (Norman) Ingleton, North Yorkshire The Church of St. Mary's has one of Ingleton's oldest relics, the 800 year old Norman font, found in the river in the last century. A brass in the church commemorates the death of one Randall Hopley Sherlock, brother of the Reverend Sherlock (vicar of Ingleton), struck by lightning at Ingleton station. And with the area below the prominent viaduct that crosses the valley in the village called the Holmes (Holme Head etc), one can only speculate about the origin of the name of a certain detective! http://www.ingleton.co.uk/inghist.htm
	St. Mary's Church (19th century) Kettlewell, North Yorkshire The present building was consecrated on 8th. September 1885, St. Mary's Day. Previously there was an 19th century building which was found unsafe and demolished in 1882. Before that there was a Norman building which was probably rendered unfit by the great flood in 1686. http://www.kettlewell.info/church.cfm
	St. Andrew's Church (14th century) Kildwick, North Yorkshire Kildwick Church is a well-known landmark in the Aire Valley just off the A629 between Skipton and Keighley. The church dates back to around 950 AD, and most of the present building is 14th century. http://www.kildwick.org.uk/index.htm
Photo courtesy of Skipton Web	Kirkby Malham Church (15th century) Kirkby Malham, North Yorkshire The cathedral of the dales: this austerely beautiful 15th century church (whose bells are heard by Tom in Charles Kingsley's 'Water Babies') stands in a leafy, beckside corner of the village, slightly apart from the tourist bustle of the 'Cove', as befits its early monastic connections. Rich in beauties and rarities from Viking to modern times, it speaks of a worshipping community with its roots deep in English history. http://www.daelnet.co.uk/features/churches/3peaks/kmalham.htm
	St. John the Evangelist (19th century) Langcliffe, North Yorkshire Like its three sister churches of Settle, Rathmell and Stainforth, Langcliffe church, dedicated to St John the Evangelist, was created out of the ancient parish of Giggleswick. They were part of the mid-nineteenth century period of church building, and were all built between 1836 and 1851. Langcliffe is the youngest of the daughter churches, built on the site of the old tannery by money donated by John Green Paley of Harrogate, and aided by a grant from the Ripon Diocesan Church Building Society. It had its foundation stone laid on the 27th December 1850. It is a single aisled building in the Neo-Gothic style of architecture and comprises nave and porch, chancel and sanctuary, with a vestry off the chancel, and another off the nave, both on the north side of the building, which is built of stone, and its roof covered in grey slate. It is believed that the village of Langcliffe in Norman times stood a little to the north of its present site, in a field on the left of the lane leading to the old quarry and Winskill. http://www.langcliffe.net/Church.htm
	St. Mary the Virgin Church (18th century) Long Preston, North Yorkshire The long, low church with its elegant 18th century pinnacles stands back from the village among sheltering trees. Superb workmanship in stone and wood, combining strength with gracefulness and ranging from Norman to Georgian periods, makes it one of the gems of the area. There is a notable 18th century pipe organ, and exquisite 17th century pulpit and a marvellous black-and-white roof. http://www.achurchnearyou.com/venue.php?V=939 http://www.daelnet.co.uk/features/churches/3peaks/lpreston.htm
	Easby Church (12th century) Richmond, North Yorkshire The exact date of Easby Church is unknown, but is thought to have been built before the Abbey. However, except for parts of the chancel, little of the original church remains. There are fine examples of wall decorations in the chancel of Easby Church. The pictures on the north wall depict subjects from the Old Testament; those on the south wall are from the New Testament. Before the discovery of painting in oils, the method used for murals such as those at Easby was for watercolours to be laid on the wall before the plaster was dry. (See Easby Abbey) http://www.richmond.org.uk/guide/easby/easby.html
	St. Mary's Church (19th century) Ripon, North Yorkshire The Anglican church was the religious masterpiece of architect William Burges whose Gothic designs clearly verged on the late 19th-century Arts and Crafts Movement. Built for the first Marquess and Marchioness of Ripon, it has a highly decorated interior characteristic of the Anglo-Catholic religious sentiments of the Victorian period. (Near Fountains Abbey.) http://www.fountainsabbey.org.uk/estate/church1f.html
	Church of St Martin-on-the-Hill (19th century) Scarborough, North Yorkshire Built by Bodley in 1836, St Martin's is notable for its splendid architecture, rich furnishings and colourful decoration; it is acclaimed for its pre-Raphaelite stained glass. One of 'England's Thousand Best Churches'. http://www.st-martin-hill.freeserve.co.uk/martin.htm
	St. Leonard's Church (19th century) Scarborough, North Yorkshire The beautiful elegant spire St Leonard's Church rises out of the trees that surround it giving the busy commuter who passes by on the A164 a glimpse of the ornate building whos walls and windows are richly carved. The church was rebuilt in the 19th Century by John Pearson and was paid for by James Hall who resided at Scorborough Hall at that time as 'a thank you offering for many blessings'. The tower of made up of five pinnacles and is lavishly decorated inside with coloured floor tiles, double columns of marble separate the chancel and the nave. There is beautifully carved stonework everywhere from the font to the clock face. http://www.driffield.co.uk/wolds_village_scorborough.htm
	Holy Ascension Church (19th century) Settle, North Yorkshire Settle Parish Church was built, in the Early English Style, in 1838, from designs by Thomas Rickman and was consecrated on 26th October 1838. http://website.lineone.net/~settlechurch/guide.htm
Photo courtesy of Skipton Web	Christ Church (19th century) Skipton, North Yorkshire The corner of Cross Street, where Christ Church now stands, was the site of an ancient cross, marking the edge of Skipton. It seemed the appropriate place to build a new church, when in the 1830's Holy Trinity was unable to provide enough accommodation for the growing population wishing to attend church. The Duke of Thanet gave the land for the building, and Christ Church College Oxford gave land, the income from which would endow the living. http://www.skiptonweb.co.uk/worship/christchurch.asp
	Holy Trinity Church (14th century) Skipton, North Yorkshire The first church was built in the early 1100s, possibly made of wood. It was near where the tower now stands. Another church was built about 1300 with help from the monks at Bolton Priory. It was extended further eastwards towards the end of the 1400s, probably helped by a gift from Richard III. The tower was damaged during the Civil War, but it was restored in the 1650s (along with some of the windows too) by Lady Anne Clifford from the castle next door. The tower suffered again in 1853 -- this time from lightning. It and the roof were repaired soon afterwards. At about the same time gas lighting was fitted in the church: this made the church warmer and that caused an unbearable smell from the burial vaults (!) so 30 centimetres of concrete had to be put on the floor. There used to be galleries with seats to fit everyone in, and the pews used to be box pews, but the galleries came down in 1909 and the pews were replaced by the present oak ones with their little doors. http://www.bradford.anglican.org/skipton-ht/
Photo courtesy of St. Oswald's	St. Oswald's Parish Church (12th century) Sowerby, North Yorkshire The earliest church at Sowerby, of which any part remains, appears to have been built about the year 1140, or earlier, and is therefore in the Norman style. Today it consists of the west Tower, Nave, South Transept, small porch attached to South Wall, Crossing with Lantern above, Chancel, Chapel (south-west corner of Chancel), North Transept, North-West Porch, detached Organ Blower Chamber and Heating Chamber. In 1145 Roger de Mowbray, nephew of William the Conqueror, gave the care of the Chappell of Sowerby to the Prior of Newburgh, and history records that several members of the ancient Family of Lassels, who were Lords of the Village for about 500 years, are buried in their own Chappell of St Oswald of Sowerby. In 1842, the Church was restored and enlarged in 19th century Norman style. In 1883, further restoration and repair included the erection of an open Lantern of woodwork surmounted by a slated spire above the Chancel Crossing. http://www.stoswaldsowerby.org.uk/
	St. Peter's Church (19th century) Stainforth, North Yorkshire The bright and attractive little church of 1842 stands in a well kept churchyard in a pleasant corner of the village. Nearby is the famous Stainforth Foss and the medieval packhorse bridge beloved by Sir Edward Elgar. http://www.daelnet.co.uk/features/churches/3peaks/stainfth.htm
	St. Mary's Church (15th century) Tadcaster, North Yorkshire St Marys Church is mainly 15th century and perpendicular style with pinnacles. It is to be found in an attractive riverside setting with Roman connections. Mentioned by Bede. Interior has a magnificent east window by Morris/Burne-Jones and an unusual English window by Stephen Adam. Good woodwork and many interesting memorials. http://www.selby.gov.uk/service_main.asp
	St. Mary's Church (15th century) Thirsk, North Yorkshire St Mary's Church was completed in 1480 in the perpendicular style. Features include the 15th Century medieval woodwork in the chapel, roof, door and font and the window by Strachan, which contrasts with the medieval glass in the chapel. James and Helen Herriot (Alf and Joan Wight) were married here in November 1941. http://www.thirsk.org.uk/stmaryt1.html
	St. Oswald's Church (19th century) Thornton-in-Lonsdale, North Yorkshire The church, rebuilt in 1870, was sadly burnt down during a blizzard in 1933 and again rebuilt in pink Tebay sandstone to an interesting design by Austin Paley, reproducing the original Norman arches. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was married here in 1885. http://freespace.virgin.net/gregory.collins/3peaks/ingleton.html
	St. Columba's Church (19th century) Topcliffe, Thirsk, North Yorkshire The first church at Topcliffe was built by St. Columba's disciple, Aidan, around 650. Most buildings at this time were made of wood and thatched with reeds. It is likely that the building was destroyed when the Danes descended on Yorkshire in 794. Like many other places, we have very little additional information until the Doomesday survey. It is generally believed that the first stone church here was erected by the Percys (later Earls of Northumberland), the new Norman lords of the manor soon after 1066. The Doomesday book mentions that the church had two priests. An early Norman gable cross is still preserved in the porch of the church. At the Restoration it was retrieved from the Angel Inn and returned to its previous role. After the Restoration, the building continued to be modified and expanded. The building must have been considerably larger than it is now, as the old tower stood further to the west, shored up by strong buttresses. In the 1850s, the church was almost entirely rebuilt. The work was completed in 1855 at a total cost of £3,160. The new church was designed by George Andrews, who had designed railway stations for the companies owned by George Hudson, who lived at Baldersby Park from 1845 to 1853. http://www.st-columba.fsnet.co.uk/
	St. Hilda's Church (19th century) Whitby, North Yorkshire In 1868, the Iron Church, the predecessor of the present St. Hilda's, was opened. This was soon filled to overflowing and it was mooted that a permanent building should replace it, but it was not until it was blown down in a gale of 1881, that serious consideration was given to this proposal. The Church is built in Early English style, chiefly noted for the use of the pointed arch. It is the finest example of Victorian architecture in the area. Stained glass windows include a Jesse tree west window, in the Clerestory four windows depicting musicians from the Bible and the East Window depicting The Saints in Glory. http://www.webart.co.uk/clients/millennium/sthildas.htm
	St. Mary's Church (12th century) Whitby, North Yorkshire After the Norman conquest, many new abbeys were built, including one at Whitby. In 1110, a simple stone church was begun for the use of Abbey workers. Much of this church still stands, but it has become enlarged and altered many times as the number of worshippers increased. The Dissolution of the Monasteries, begun in 1536 by Henry VIII, resulted in the destruction of the Abbey in 1539. St. Mary's, however, was allowed to remain as it was used by local people. The Church is still the Parish Church and is used for Sunday services and the town's official functions. http://www.webart.co.uk/clients/millennium/stmarys.htm
	Holy Trinity Church (15th century) York, North Yorkshire Holy Trinity hides in a small, secluded, leafy churchyard, with the Minster towering behind. It is York's hidden gem Ð a tranquil haven among the busy city streets. With 12th century foundations, but with architecture dating mostly from the 15th century, Holy Trinity is incredibly atmospheric. Now in the care of The Churches Conservation Trust, the interior has remained unchanged and unrestored for 200 years, with mediaeval stained glass and unusual Georgian box pews. Opening times may vary depending on daylight conditions, as there is no artificial lighting in the church. Visit York Website
	St. Margaret's Church/National Centre for Early Music York, North Yorkshire The National Centre for Early Music, situated in St Margaret's Church York, is the home of the internationally renowned York Early Music Festival and the Beverley and East Riding Early Music Festival. The Centre also attracts some of the world's finest artists in the fields of jazz, folk and world music. http://www.ncem.co.uk/welcome.shtml
	York St. Mary's (Local) York, North Yorkshire York St Mary's is a former church which is now a contemporary art venue run by York Museums Trust. It is a fine medieval church and has the tallest spire in York at 47 metres high. An inscription within the church suggests it could have been consecrated as early as 1020, but very little of the original Saxon church remains. The bulk of the building dates to the early thirteenth century, with fourteenth and fifteenth century additions including the octagonal tower and spire. It stopped being an active church in 1958 and between 1975 and 2001 housed a heritage centre. http://www.yorkstmarys.org.uk/