Church of St Oswald, Filey facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St Oswald, Filey |
|
|---|---|
| St Oswald's Church | |
.jpg)
The Church of St Oswald, Filey
|
|
| 54°12′47″N 0°17′13″W / 54.213°N 0.287°W | |
| OS grid reference | TA117810 |
| Location | Filey, North Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | St Oswald |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Style | Norman Early English |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 140 feet (42.8 m) |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Filey |
| Benefice | Filey |
| Deanery | Scarborough |
| Archdeaconry | East Riding |
| Diocese | York |
The Church of St Oswald, Filey, is an old and important church in the town of Filey, North Yorkshire, England. This church was built a very long time ago, mostly in the 12th and 13th centuries. Some parts, like the battlements (wall tops), were added in the 15th century.
Today, the church is a grade I listed building. This means it's considered very special and historically important. One famous expert, Nikolaus Pevsner, even called it "easily the finest church" in its area.
St Oswald's church stands on the northern edge of a deep valley that divides Filey. The church is in what used to be the North Riding of Yorkshire, while most of the town was in the East Riding. For many years, the church's tall tower helped sailors find their way when traveling along the coast. It also guided ships trying to land safely on Filey's sandy beaches.
Because of its large size (over 40 meters long) and unique design, some historians think the church was more important than a regular parish church. They even call it "a cathedral in miniature" because it's so grand for a small town. The church is also listed in Simon Jenkins' book England's Thousand Best Churches.
Contents
History of St Oswald's Church
The main shape of St Oswald's church is a cross, which is called a cruciform design. Experts believe it was first built around 1150. However, some features suggest it might be even older. Most agree that the church shows a mix of Norman architecture and Early English styles, built between 1180 and 1230.
The church's large size, especially for a small fishing village, has made people wonder about its past. It's much longer than most churches in the area. This has led some to believe it might have been a "minster," which was a more important church in earlier times.
Before the Norman Conquest of England, the land where Filey stands belonged to a powerful person named Tostig. He and his wife were big fans of St Oswald, a Northumbrian king. This is why the church is named after him. After the Conquest, the land was given to the de Gant family. They then gave the church to the monks of Bridlington Priory, who later rebuilt it.
Filey's history might go back even further. Some think it could be a Roman site mentioned by Ptolemy, an ancient writer. Roman coins have been found nearby at Filey Brigg.
For a long time, monks from Bridlington Priory looked after the church instead of a local vicar. This continued until the priory was closed down.
Changes Over Time
The basic structure of St Oswald's church has stayed mostly the same since the 1200s. However, the roofs were made lower over the years. The church mixes Norman and Early English styles, with some parts showing a later style called Perpendicular Gothic.
The church had a big renovation in 1839, costing a lot of money. Another major repair happened between 1885 and 1886. During this time, the floors were lowered back to their original level, and damaged walls were fixed. The Archbishop of York reopened the church in August 1886. In 1908, part of the roof had to be rebuilt after a fire.
In the 19th century, Filey became a popular holiday spot, especially after the railway arrived. To serve the growing population, St John's Church was built in 1870-1871. Today, both St John's and St Oswald's churches are part of the same parish.
The Church Tower
The church's tower is about 9 meters by 9 meters. It's a very noticeable part of the building. Although it looks central, it's actually slightly off to the east. Some believe this is because the ground on the west side couldn't support the tower's weight. Others think the tower was originally meant to be at the west end but was moved for safety.
For centuries, this tall tower has been a vital landmark for ships. It helped guide them along the coast between the rivers Tyne, Wear, and Esk and London. It also helped boats find their way to land on Filey's beaches.
In 2014, during a check of the tower, workers found old graffiti on the lead roof. A closer look revealed nearly 1,500 drawings and messages! These included simple hands and hearts, and even a full picture of a "Whitby Cat." Experts believe this graffiti dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries. One of the steps in the tower's staircase is actually an old grave cover from the 8th century.
People Connected to the Church
The Reverend Thomas Norfolk Jackson was in charge of St Oswald's from 1833 to 1873. The famous writer Charlotte Brontë visited Filey in the 1850s. She described Reverend Jackson as a "well-meaning, but [an] utterly inactive clergyman."
Another interesting vicar was Reverend A N Cooper, who served from 1880 to 1935. He was famous for walking over 200 miles to London! After that success, he later took six weeks off and walked all the way to Rome.
The Churchyard
The famous writer Charles Dickens spent time in the churchyard, looking at the old gravestones. He wrote about how much he was touched by the difficult lives of the local fishermen and their wives.
The churchyard has over a thousand graves, including 25 for soldiers from the Commonwealth Wars. In 2014, the churchyard was closed for new burials, but people can still bury ashes there. Some crew members from the fishing boat "Joan Margaret" are buried here. Their boat sank after hitting mines.
In 2019, a special court decided that a body had been buried in the churchyard without proper permission in 2018. The person who died had wanted to be buried there with their relatives. Even though the churchyard was closed, the court allowed the body to stay, respecting the person's last wish.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in North Yorkshire (district)
- Listed buildings in Filey
