Old All Saints Church, Skelton-in-Cleveland
Encyclopedia
Old All Saints Church, Skelton-in-Cleveland, is a redundant
Anglican
church in the town of Skelton-in-Cleveland
, North Yorkshire
, England . It has been designated by English Heritage
as a Grade II* listed building, and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
.
. It replaced an older church on the same site that had been built by the Fauconberg family in the 14th century. Part of the fabric of the older church was incorporated into this church; this consists of part of the north wall of the chancel
, supported by a buttress
. This, on its interior, includes memorials to the Trotter family of the castle. In 1859 a font
in Caen stone
was given to the church. In 1884 a new church, also dedicated
to All Saints, was opened in High Street. The font and one of the bells were moved to the new church. The roofs of the church were repaired and re-slated in 1911. The old church was vested
in the Trust on 1 December 1996.
. It has Lakeland
slate
roofs, with a stone ridge and copings
to the gable
s. Its plan consists of a three-bay
nave
with a north transept
and north-west vestry
, a chancel
, and a west tower. The nave measures 61 in 6 in (18.75 m) by 25 in 6 in (7.77 m), the chancel 26 in 9 in (8.15 m) by 18 in 6 in (5.64 m), the transept 16 feet (4.88 m) by 9 in 6 in (2.9 m), and the interior of the tower is 9 feet (2.74 m) square. The tower has three stages; in the bottom stage is a round-headed south doorway, in the middle stage is a west window with a pointed head, and in the top stage are round-headed bell openings. The summit has a battlement
ed parapet
. In the north and west walls of the church are square windows, and in the south wall is a sundial
. The transept has round-headed sash window
s, and at the east end is a Venetian window. In the chancel is a round-headed priest's door and another round-headed window.
. There is a panelled
west gallery carried on four thin fluted
wooden columns containing raked seating. There is a three-decker pulpit
with a tester
, and panelled box pew
s. The transept was used as a family pew and contains box pews and a fireplace. On the north wall of the chancel are memorials dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Also on the chancel walls and arch are painted boards containing the Ten Commandments
and biblical texts. Elsewhere in the church are three medieval
stone coffins and a carved coffin lid.
Redundant church
A redundant church is a church building that is no longer required for regular public worship. The phrase is particularly used to refer to former Anglican buildings in the United Kingdom, but may refer to any disused church building around the world...
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...
church in the town of Skelton-in-Cleveland
Skelton-in-Cleveland
Skelton-in-Cleveland is a small town in the civil parish of Skelton and Brotton in the unitary authority of Redcar and Cleveland and the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire in the North East of England. It is situated at the foot of the Cleveland Hills and about east of Middlesbrough. Skelton is...
, 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 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 II* listed building, and is in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust
Churches Conservation Trust
The Churches Conservation Trust, which was initially known as the Redundant Churches Fund, is a charity whose purpose is to protect historic churches at risk, those that have been made redundant by the Church of England. The Trust was established by the Pastoral Measure of 1968...
.
History
The church was rebuilt on a site near Skelton Castle in 1785 by John Hall-StevensonJohn Hall-Stevenson
John Hall-Stevenson , in his youth known as John Hall, was an English country gentleman and writer.He is memorialised as 'Eugenius' in Laurence Sterne's novels Tristram Shandy and A Sentimental Journey Through France and Italy.-Life:...
. It replaced an older church on the same site that had been built by the Fauconberg family in the 14th century. Part of the fabric of the older church was incorporated into this church; this consists of part of the north wall of the chancel
Chancel
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...
, supported by a buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
. This, on its interior, includes memorials to the Trotter family of the castle. In 1859 a font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
in Caen stone
Caen stone
Caen stone or Pierre de Caen, is a light creamy-yellow Jurassic limestone quarried in northwestern France near the city of Caen.The limestone is a fine grained oolitic limestone formed in shallow water lagoons in the Bathonian Age about 167 million years ago...
was given to the church. In 1884 a new church, also dedicated
Dedication
Dedication is the act of consecrating an altar, temple, church or other sacred building. It also refers to the inscription of books or other artifacts when these are specifically addressed or presented to a particular person. This practice, which once was used to gain the patronage and support of...
to All Saints, was opened in High Street. The font and one of the bells were moved to the new church. The roofs of the church were repaired and re-slated in 1911. The old church was vested
Vesting
In law, vesting is to give an immediately secured right of present or future enjoyment. One has a vested right to an asset that cannot be taken away by any third party, even though one may not yet possess the asset. When the right, interest or title to the present or future possession of a legal...
in the Trust on 1 December 1996.
Exterior
The church is constructed in sandstoneSandstone
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,...
. It has Lakeland
Lake District
The Lake District, also commonly known as The Lakes or Lakeland, is a mountainous region in North West England. A popular holiday destination, it is famous not only for its lakes and its mountains but also for its associations with the early 19th century poetry and writings of William Wordsworth...
slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
roofs, with a stone ridge and copings
Coping (architecture)
Coping , consists of the capping or covering of a wall.A splayed or wedge coping slopes in a single direction; a saddle coping slopes to either side of a central high point....
to the 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...
s. Its plan consists of a three-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...
with a north transept
Transept
For the periodical go to The Transept.A transept is a transverse section, of any building, which lies across the main body of the building. In Christian churches, a transept is an area set crosswise to the nave in a cruciform building in Romanesque and Gothic Christian church architecture...
and north-west 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....
, a chancel
Chancel
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...
, and a west tower. The nave measures 61 in 6 in (18.75 m) by 25 in 6 in (7.77 m), the chancel 26 in 9 in (8.15 m) by 18 in 6 in (5.64 m), the transept 16 feet (4.88 m) by 9 in 6 in (2.9 m), and the interior of the tower is 9 feet (2.74 m) square. The tower has three stages; in the bottom stage is a round-headed south doorway, in the middle stage is a west window with a pointed head, and in the top stage are round-headed bell openings. The summit has a 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...
ed 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...
. In the north and west walls of the church are square windows, and in the south wall is a sundial
Sundial
A sundial is a device that measures time by the position of the Sun. In common designs such as the horizontal sundial, the sun casts a shadow from its style onto a surface marked with lines indicating the hours of the day. The style is the time-telling edge of the gnomon, often a thin rod or a...
. The transept has round-headed sash window
Sash window
A sash window or hung sash window is made of one or more movable panels or "sashes" that form a frame to hold panes of glass, which are often separated from other panes by narrow muntins...
s, and at the east end is a Venetian window. In the chancel is a round-headed priest's door and another round-headed window.
Interior
The interior of the church is plasteredPlasterwork
Plasterwork refers to construction or ornamentation done with plaster, such as a layer of plaster on an interior wall or plaster decorative moldings on ceilings or walls. This is also sometimes called pargeting...
. There is a panelled
Panelling
Panelling is a wall covering constructed from rigid or semi-rigid components. These are traditionally interlocking wood, but could be plastic or other materials....
west gallery carried on four thin fluted
Fluting
Fluting may refer to:*Fluting *Fluting *Fluting *Fluting...
wooden columns containing raked seating. There is a three-decker pulpit
Pulpit
Pulpit is a speakers' stand in a church. In many Christian churches, there are two speakers' stands at the front of the church. Typically, the one on the left is called the pulpit...
with a tester
Sounding board
A sound board, or soundboard, is the surface of a string instrument that the strings vibrate against, usually via some sort of bridge. The resonant properties of the sound board and the interior of the instrument greatly increase loudness over the string alone.The sound board operates by the...
, and panelled box pew
Box pew
Box pew is a type of church pew that is encased in panelling and was prevalent in England and other Protestant countries from the 16th to early 19th century.-History in England:...
s. The transept was used as a family pew and contains box pews and a fireplace. On the north wall of the chancel are memorials dating from the 17th and 18th centuries. Also on the chancel walls and arch are painted boards containing the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
and biblical texts. Elsewhere in the church are three medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
stone coffins and a carved coffin lid.