St Denys's Church, York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Denys Church, York |
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St Denys Church, York
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| 53°57′26.27″N 1°4′34.61″W / 53.9572972°N 1.0762806°W | |
| OS grid reference | SE 60713 51574 |
| Location | York |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Denys |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | York St Denys |
| Deanery | York |
| Archdeaconry | York |
| Diocese | Diocese of York |
| Province | Province of York |
St Denys' Church, York is a historic parish church located on Walmgate in York, England. It is part of the Church of England and is a Grade I listed building, which means it's considered very important.
Contents
History of St Denys Church
Early Beginnings and Design
This church was built where an older Saxon church once stood. It's even possible a Roman temple was there before that! We know about it from records going back to around 1154.
Inside, you can see some of York's oldest stained glass. Look for the cool carved doorway from the Norman times. The roof, built in the 1400s, has special designs called heraldry. In the east window, also made in the 1400s, you'll find a picture of St Denys. Not many churches in England are named after this French saint – fewer than 40!
Changes to the Church Building
The church used to be much bigger than it is today. Part of it sank after a nearby "king's fishpool" was drained. Another part collapsed when a sewer was being built close by. The main entrance you see now was once a window.
Originally, the church also had a tall, pointy spire. But, between the 1600s and 1700s, it was hit by a cannonball and then by lightning! The damaged spire was finally removed 20 years later after strong winds blew part of it down.
The church was rebuilt in 1798. Then, from 1846 to 1847, more changes were made. The west end and tower were rebuilt, along with the north and south arcades. An architect named Thomas Pickersgill oversaw this work.
Church Organ
Past Organ
The church used to have a pipe organ built by Thos. S. Hughes of Bradford in 1925. You can find details about this old organ on the National Pipe Organ Register.
Newer Organ
In 2017 and 2018, the old organ was replaced. The church now has an organ from 1879. This organ was built by a famous organ maker known as Father Willis. It used to be in St Ebbe's Church, Oxford before coming to St Denys'.
Notable Burials and Memorials
People Buried Here
One important person buried at St Denys' Church is Henry Percy, 3rd Earl of Northumberland. He was a powerful noble in English history.
Memorials Inside the Church
The church also has several memorials to remember people from the past. These include:
- Robert Welborn Hotham (around 1806) by Fisher
- James Melrose (died 1837) by Plows
- Rev John Walker, who was the Rector (died 1813)
- Dorothy Wilson (died 1717)
