Old St Stephen's Church, Fylingdales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Old St Stephen's Church, Fylingdales |
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Old St Stephen's Church, Fylingdales
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| OS grid reference | NZ 941 059 |
| Location | Robin Hood's Bay, North Yorkshire |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Anglican |
| Website | Churches Conservation Trust |
| History | |
| Dedication | Saint Stephen |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Redundant |
| Heritage designation | Grade I |
| Designated | 6 October 1969 |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1822 |
| Closed | 1870 |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Sandstone, slate roof |
Old St Stephen's Church is a special old church located on a hillside in Fylingdales, a village in North Yorkshire, England. It looks out over the beautiful Robin Hood's Bay. This church used to be an Anglican church, but it's no longer used for regular services. It's considered a very important building, listed as Grade I on the National Heritage List for England. The Churches Conservation Trust now takes care of it, making sure it stays safe for everyone to see.
Contents
History of Old St Stephen's Church
When Was the Church Built?
The current church building was constructed in 1822. It replaced an even older church that had stood on the same spot for many centuries. There has been a church on this site since the Middle Ages, which means it has a very long history.
Why Did the Church Close?
Old St Stephen's Church closed its doors in 1870. A new church, also called St Stephen's Church, was built nearby. The new church was located closer to the railway station, making it easier for people to reach.
Who Looks After It Now?
Since December 1, 1986, the Churches Conservation Trust has been responsible for the old church. This trust works to protect and preserve historic churches that are no longer used for regular worship. They make sure these important buildings are kept safe for future generations.
Can You Stay at the Church?
Interestingly, parts of the church's inside have been changed to allow campers to stay there. This unique experience is sometimes called "Champing." It lets people spend a night in a historic church building.
Architecture of the Church Building
What Does the Outside Look Like?
Old St Stephen's Church is built from sandstone, which is a type of rock. Its roof is made of purple slate. The building has a simple design, often called a "preaching box." It has one main room, which includes a long nave (the main part of the church) and a small sanctuary at one end.
There is a porch on the south side and a small room called a vestry on the north side. At the west end of the church, you can see a small bell-cupola, which is like a tiny tower holding a bell. The church's style is Neoclassical, which means it uses ideas from ancient Greek and Roman buildings.
Above the porch, there is a sundial. This sundial shows the dates 1736, 1864, and 1919, which might mark important events or repairs. Inside the porch, there are wooden benches. The walls of the nave have windows with pointed arches. There is also a square-shaped door on the south side of the sanctuary. The east window looks similar to the nave windows and has diagonal supports called buttresses next to it. The vestry has a window with 15 small glass panes.
What Does the Inside Look Like?
The inside of Old St Stephen's Church still has its original Georgian features. These date back to the time the church was built. You can see a panelled gallery on the north and west sides. This gallery is supported by Doric columns, which are a classic type of pillar.
On the south wall, there is a special pulpit with three levels, called a triple decker pulpit. It also has a sounding board above it, which helps to project the speaker's voice. The church also has box pews, which are like small enclosed seating areas. One of these pews even has the name and coat of arms of the Farsyde family, showing their importance to the church. There are also special memorial tablets inside, remembering members of the Farsyde family. The baptismal font, used for baptisms, dates from the early 1700s.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in North Yorkshire (district)
- List of churches preserved by the Churches Conservation Trust in Northern England
