Holy Trinity Church, Little Ouseburn
Encyclopedia
Holy Trinity Church, Little Ouseburn, stands to the northeast of the village of Little Ouseburn
, North Yorkshire
, England. It is an Anglican
parish church
in the deanery of Ripon, the archdeaconry of Richmond, and the diocese of Ripon and Leeds
. Its benefice is united with those of five local churches. The church has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade I listed building.
date from the 11th century, the south aisle
, arcades
and the chancel arch from the 14th century, and the battlement
s and pinnacle
s on the tower from the 15th century. In 1874–75 the north aisle was rebuilt to provide an organ chamber and a vestry
, and the east window was altered, the architects being the Lancaster
partnership of Paley and Austin. Also during the 19th century the porch was added.
, and the newer parts in dressed sandstone
. The porch is timber-framed
on stone, and the roofs are in stone flags. The plan of the church consists of a two-bay
nave
, north and south aisles, a south porch, a north organ chamber, a chancel with a north vestry, and a west tower. The tower is in three stages with an embattled
parapet
with pinnacles, a saddleback roof, and a weathervane in the form of a cockerel. On the south and west sides of the tower are round-headed windows. The louvred
bell openings are in pairs and are round-headed. On the side of the south aisle is a gable
d porch, with two two-light square-headed windows to the east of it. The east window of the aisle has three lights, under a lintel
consisting of a re-used grave slab carved with a wheelcross. On the south side of the chancel is a round-arched priest's door between pairs of lancet window
s. On the side of the north aisle are two three-light square-headed windows and the organ chamber. The vestry has a north three-light window and two lancets on the east side. The east window in the chancel has five lights under a pointed arch. At the west end of the south aisle are fragments of an early sculpture. On the gable at the east end of the nave is a finial
consisting of a wheelcross.
. In the south wall of the chancel is a recess for an aumbry
, and a damaged piscina
. There is another aumbry recess in the wall of the south aisle. One of the pews in the church is carved with a poppyhead
and a parrot. Other pews are carved with poppyheads, these dating probably from the 19th century. The two-manual
organ was built in 1872 by Brindley and Foster
.
dating from the middle of the 18th century. It was built for Henry Thompson of nearby Kirby Hall who died in 1760. The mausoleum is constructed in sandstone ashlar
and has a lead roof. It consists of a rotunda
surrounded by a Greek Doric
colonnade
with a triglyph
frieze
and cornice
; it is surmounted by a drum with a domed roof.
Little Ouseburn
Little Ouseburn is a small village and civil parish in the Harrogate district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated near the A1 road motorway and 6 miles south east of Boroughbridge.-External links:...
, North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England. It is an Anglican
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
in the deanery of Ripon, the archdeaconry of Richmond, and the diocese of Ripon and Leeds
Diocese of Ripon and Leeds
The Diocese of Ripon and Leeds is an administrative division of the Church of England, part of the Province of York. It covers an area in western and northern Yorkshire as well as the south Teesdale area administered by County Durham which is traditionally part of Yorkshire...
. Its benefice is united with those of five local churches. The church has been designated by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
as a Grade I listed building.
History
The tower and chancelChancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar in the sanctuary at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building...
date from the 11th century, the south aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
, arcades
Arcade (architecture)
An arcade is a succession of arches, each counterthrusting the next, supported by columns or piers or a covered walk enclosed by a line of such arches on one or both sides. In warmer or wet climates, exterior arcades provide shelter for pedestrians....
and the chancel arch from the 14th century, and the battlement
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
s and pinnacle
Pinnacle
A pinnacle is an architectural ornament originally forming the cap or crown of a buttress or small turret, but afterwards used on parapets at the corners of towers and in many other situations. The pinnacle looks like a small spire...
s on the tower from the 15th century. In 1874–75 the north aisle was rebuilt to provide an organ chamber and a vestry
Vestry
A vestry is a room in or attached to a church or synagogue in which the vestments, vessels, records, etc., are kept , and in which the clergy and choir robe or don their vestments for divine service....
, and the east window was altered, the architects being the Lancaster
Lancaster, Lancashire
Lancaster is the county town of Lancashire, England. It is situated on the River Lune and has a population of 45,952. Lancaster is a constituent settlement of the wider City of Lancaster, local government district which has a population of 133,914 and encompasses several outlying towns, including...
partnership of Paley and Austin. Also during the 19th century the porch was added.
Exterior
The older parts of the church are constructed in stone rubbleRubble
Rubble is broken stone, of irregular size, shape and texture. This word is closely connected in derivation with "rubbish", which was formerly also applied to what we now call "rubble". Rubble naturally found in the soil is known also as brash...
, and the newer parts in dressed sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
. The porch is timber-framed
Timber framing
Timber framing , or half-timbering, also called in North America "post-and-beam" construction, is the method of creating structures using heavy squared off and carefully fitted and joined timbers with joints secured by large wooden pegs . It is commonplace in large barns...
on stone, and the roofs are in stone flags. The plan of the church consists of a two-bay
Bay (architecture)
A bay is a unit of form in architecture. This unit is defined as the zone between the outer edges of an engaged column, pilaster, or post; or within a window frame, doorframe, or vertical 'bas relief' wall form.-Defining elements:...
nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
, north and south aisles, a south porch, a north organ chamber, a chancel with a north vestry, and a west tower. The tower is in three stages with an embattled
Battlement
A battlement in defensive architecture, such as that of city walls or castles, comprises a parapet , in which portions have been cut out at intervals to allow the discharge of arrows or other missiles. These cut-out portions form crenels...
parapet
Parapet
A parapet is a wall-like barrier at the edge of a roof, terrace, balcony or other structure. Where extending above a roof, it may simply be the portion of an exterior wall that continues above the line of the roof surface, or may be a continuation of a vertical feature beneath the roof such as a...
with pinnacles, a saddleback roof, and a weathervane in the form of a cockerel. On the south and west sides of the tower are round-headed windows. The louvred
Louver
A louver or louvre , from the French l'ouvert; "the open one") is a window, blind or shutter with horizontal slats that are angled to admit light and air, but to keep out rain, direct sunshine, and noise...
bell openings are in pairs and are round-headed. On the side of the south aisle is a gable
Gable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
d porch, with two two-light square-headed windows to the east of it. The east window of the aisle has three lights, under a lintel
Lintel (architecture)
A lintel can be a load-bearing building component, a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. It is often found over portals, doors, and windows.-Structural uses:...
consisting of a re-used grave slab carved with a wheelcross. On the south side of the chancel is a round-arched priest's door between pairs of lancet window
Lancet window
A lancet window is a tall narrow window with a pointed arch at its top. It acquired the "lancet" name from its resemblance to a lance. Instances of this architectural motif are most often found in Gothic and ecclesiastical structures, where they are often placed singly or in pairs.The motif first...
s. On the side of the north aisle are two three-light square-headed windows and the organ chamber. The vestry has a north three-light window and two lancets on the east side. The east window in the chancel has five lights under a pointed arch. At the west end of the south aisle are fragments of an early sculpture. On the gable at the east end of the nave is a finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
consisting of a wheelcross.
Interior
The tower arch has a round head; the chancel arch is pointed. The arcades have pointed arches carried on octagonal piersPier (architecture)
In architecture, a pier is an upright support for a superstructure, such as an arch or bridge. Sections of wall between openings function as piers. The simplest cross section of the pier is square, or rectangular, although other shapes are also common, such as the richly articulated piers of Donato...
. In the south wall of the chancel is a recess for an aumbry
Aumbry
In the Middle Ages an aumbry was a cabinet in the wall of a Christian church or in the sacristy which was used to store chalices and other vessels, as well as for the reserved sacrament, the consecrated elements from the Eucharist. This latter use was infrequent in pre-Reformation churches,...
, and a damaged piscina
Piscina
A piscina is a shallow basin placed near the altar of a church, used for washing the communion vessels. The sacrarium is the drain itself. Anglicans usually refer to the basin, calling it a piscina. Roman Catholics usually refer to the drain, and by extension, the basin, as the sacrarium...
. There is another aumbry recess in the wall of the south aisle. One of the pews in the church is carved with a poppyhead
Poppyhead (carving)
Poppyhead is a form of carving of the end of a bench or a choir stall. The carving consists of leaves and flowers, which are usually in the form of a fleur-de-lys....
and a parrot. Other pews are carved with poppyheads, these dating probably from the 19th century. The two-manual
Manual (music)
A manual is a keyboard designed to be played with the hands on a pipe organ, harpsichord, clavichord, electronic organ, or synthesizer. The term "manual" is used with regard to any hand keyboard on these instruments to distinguish it from the pedalboard, which is a keyboard that the organist plays...
organ was built in 1872 by Brindley and Foster
Brindley & Foster
Brindley & Foster was a pipe organ builder based in Sheffield who flourished between 1854 and 1939.-Background:The business was established by Charles Brindley in 1854. He was joined by Albert Healey Foster in 1871 and the company acquired the name Brindley & Foster.Charles Brindley was born in...
.
External features
To the southwest of the church is a mausoleumMausoleum
A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or persons. A monument without the interment is a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be considered a type of tomb or the tomb may be considered to be within the...
dating from the middle of the 18th century. It was built for Henry Thompson of nearby Kirby Hall who died in 1760. The mausoleum is constructed in sandstone ashlar
Ashlar
Ashlar is prepared stone work of any type of stone. Masonry using such stones laid in parallel courses is known as ashlar masonry, whereas masonry using irregularly shaped stones is known as rubble masonry. Ashlar blocks are rectangular cuboid blocks that are masonry sculpted to have square edges...
and has a lead roof. It consists of a rotunda
Rotunda (architecture)
A rotunda is any building with a circular ground plan, sometimes covered by a dome. It can also refer to a round room within a building . The Pantheon in Rome is a famous rotunda. A Band Rotunda is a circular bandstand, usually with a dome...
surrounded by a Greek Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
colonnade
Colonnade
In classical architecture, a colonnade denotes a long sequence of columns joined by their entablature, often free-standing, or part of a building....
with a triglyph
Triglyph
Triglyph is an architectural term for the vertically channeled tablets of the Doric frieze, so called because of the angular channels in them, two perfect and one divided, the two chamfered angles or hemiglyphs being reckoned as one. The square recessed spaces between the triglyphs on a Doric...
frieze
Frieze
thumb|267px|Frieze of the [[Tower of the Winds]], AthensIn architecture the frieze is the wide central section part of an entablature and may be plain in the Ionic or Doric order, or decorated with bas-reliefs. Even when neither columns nor pilasters are expressed, on an astylar wall it lies upon...
and cornice
Cornice
Cornice molding is generally any horizontal decorative molding that crowns any building or furniture element: the cornice over a door or window, for instance, or the cornice around the edge of a pedestal. A simple cornice may be formed just with a crown molding.The function of the projecting...
; it is surmounted by a drum with a domed roof.