Church Of St Cuthbert

The Church of St Cuthbert is a parish church largely dating from the late 12th century, likely built by Richard of Wolviston for Bishop Puiset. An east bay of the chancel was added in the early 14th century. The west tower is from 1837, the south porch and aisle from 1846 by I. Bonomi, and the north aisle and transept from 1852 by D. Gray. The original fabric is of squared stone, while later additions are dressed stone with ashlar dressings. Welsh slate covers the aisle roofs, while the roofs of the other sections are not visible.

The church consists of a west tower, a nave with a south aisle and porch, a north transept, a chancel, and a north vestry. The west tower is broad and rectangular, with large, round-headed 2-light bell openings divided by colonnettes with waterleaf capitals. The 6-bay nave is complemented by a south aisle and porch. The south porch has a Romanesque-style doorway featuring two orders of columns with waterleaf capitals and a chevron-moulded arch. Windows throughout exhibit similar detailing.

The chancel is 6 bays long, with bays one to five being of exceptional Romanesque quality. They feature a finely-moulded plinth and are divided by flat buttresses. A plain round-headed priest's door is located in the third bay, above which are five round-headed windows, shafted with waterleaf capitals. The arches are elaborately moulded, with enriched chevrons set at right angles to the wall and an outer flat chevron frieze that extends across the buttresses. A corbel table with moulded corbels is also present. The right bay incorporates a renewed Decorated 2-light window, and the chancel has a plain parapet. The east window is a renewed 5-light Decorated window. The north wall of the chancel has five plainer Romanesque windows. The north aisle wall contains plaques recording dates of restoration, architects, and church wardens.

Inside, the 5-bay south arcade originally displayed seven bays, although a painting predating the tower shows this. It is characterized by round piers with octagonal abaci, waterleaf capitals, and finely-moulded arches, with a chevron frieze above. The north arcade is from 1852, but one base and the semicircular east respond are original. A splendid chancel arch features three orders of columns, waterleaf capitals, and roll-moulded arches. A large Decorated tomb recess with open-traceried gable houses the effigy of a knight. A C14 piscina is also present. The north wall of the chancel includes a recumbent effigy of Rev. Gilly within a Romanesque-style recess, created in 1855 by J.G. Lough. Wall tablets commemorate William Alder (1800) and Mary Ord (1810), both by J. Jobling. The reading desk and pulpit, brought from Durham Cathedral in 1840, are mid-17th century in the Cosin style, combining Gothic and Renaissance motifs. Two flower stands of similar style and period were acquired in the mid-20th century. Two clergy stalls in the chancel were remade in the 19th century, incorporating earlier 17th-century carving. An 18th-century organ case sits within the tower arch. The tower houses a large and finely carved wood Royal Arms of Charles II. A composite pillar in the north aisle is constructed from multiple Anglo-Saxon cross fragments. The south aisle contains a wall monument to Jane, Lady Blake, from 1827, depicting a figure weeping on a sarcophagus.