St Oswald's Church, Askrigg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St Oswald’s Church, Askrigg |
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2019
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| 54°18′52.42″N 2°04′58.7″W / 54.3145611°N 2.082972°W | |
| OS grid reference | SD 94759 91015 |
| Location | Askrigg |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| Website | https://upperwensleydalechurch.org/st-oswalds/ |
| History | |
| Dedication | St Oswald |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade I listed |
| Administration | |
| Parish | Askrigg |
| Deanery | Wensley |
| Archdeaconry | Richmond and Craven |
| Diocese | Diocese of Leeds |
St Oswald's Church is a very old and important church located in the village of Askrigg, North Yorkshire, England. It is part of the Church of England. This church is considered a special historical building, known as a Grade I listed building. This means it is one of the most important historic buildings in the country.
Contents
History of St Oswald's Church
Most of St Oswald's Church was built in the 1400s. However, some parts are even older than that. The church is made of stone and built in a style called Perpendicular Gothic. This style is known for its tall, narrow windows and detailed stone carvings.
The church has a main area called the nave and a chancel, which is where the altar is. It also has side aisles, a porch on the south side, and a tall tower at the west end. This tower has battlements, which look like the top of a castle wall, and pointed decorations called pinnacles. Inside the tower, there is a clock and six bells.
Church Restoration in the 1800s
By the mid-1800s, the church needed a lot of repair work. The foundations of the main pillars inside the church were starting to give way. So, between 1852 and 1854, the church underwent a big restoration project. This repair work cost about £1,500, which was a lot of money back then.
During this restoration, the main body of the church and the north aisle were rebuilt. The roof of the nave, which was from the 1400s, was carefully repaired. An old gallery that blocked the tower was removed. A new staircase was also added to make it easier to get to the tower. The church reopened for services on October 31, 1854. Charles Longley, who was the Bishop of Ripon at the time, led the reopening ceremony.
Parish Status and Other Churches
St Oswald's Church is part of a group of churches that work together. This is called a joint parish. It shares its parish with three other churches in the area:
- St Margaret's Church, Hawes
- St Mary and St John's Church, Hardraw
- St Matthew's Church, Stalling Busk
Church Bells
The bells at St Oswald's Church were changed in 1897. Three of the original bells, which were very old (from around 1657), were melted down and made into new ones. This process is called "recasting." Three brand new bells were also added. The largest bell, called the tenor, weighed about 520 kilograms.
On November 11, 1897, the bells were officially rededicated by John Pulleine, who was the Bishop of Richmond. Later, in 1992, the bells were rehung in a new frame by a company called Eayre and Smith. This made sure they could be rung safely and sound great.
The Church Organ
St Oswald's Church has a beautiful pipe organ. This type of organ uses air blown through many pipes to make music. It has two keyboards, called manuals, for the organist to play. The organ was built in 1869 by a company named Forster and Andrews. You can find more details about this specific organ on the National Pipe Organ Register, which lists many organs across the country.
See also
- Grade I listed buildings in North Yorkshire (district)
- Listed buildings in Askrigg
