Church Of St Giles

The Church of St. Giles is a parish church located in Chollerton, with origins dating back to the 12th century, with later additions from the 14th century and around 1796. The church was restored and given a Gothic style in 1873. It is constructed of ashlar stone, with the north wall made of random rubble, and features roofs made of Welsh and Lakeland slate.

The church includes a west tower, nave, aisles, chancel, and a south porch. The west tower has three stages, with the lower two stages built in 1769, showcasing alternating rusticated quoins, a flat band above the ground floor, and a cornice above the first floor. The third stage, added in 1873, features battlements, crocketed pinnacles, and a two-stage wood-shingled spire. At this time, cusped ogival windows were also added, including a two-light window on the ground floor, a one-light window on the first floor, and a two-light Decorated bell opening.

The nave has four bays and includes a Victorian south porch in the left bay, along with two-light windows that have cusped ogival heads. The chancel, which has two bays, features arched two-light windows with quatrefoils above, and a similar three-light window on the east side. The north wall of the chancel displays three early medieval cross heads set beneath a tall cylindrical chimney and above a lean-to boiler house with a stone slate roof.

Inside, the church has an early 13th-century south arcade with three piers and two responds made from Roman monolithic columns, likely sourced from Corstopitum. These columns have round capitals, square abaci, and double-chamfered pointed arches. The 14th-century north arcade features octagonal piers, moulded capitals, and similar arches, while the chancel arch is Victorian. The nave's windows and doors are adorned with Victorian shouldered lintels.

The church has 19th-century canted panelled ceilings, with the nave supported by arch-braced king-post trusses. There are two fonts: one is a large re-used Roman altar, and the other is a 13th-century font with a round bowl on a square stem, featuring broach-stopped chamfers and four colonettes with moulded capitals. A 17th-century font cover is decorated with scrolls and a turned finial. The backs of the choir stalls and the altar back from the 17th century include elaborately carved panels made from re-used domestic materials.

The organ, built by Father Schmidt, was given to the church in 1850 and has been altered since. Additionally, medieval coffin lids and architectural fragments are incorporated into the south porch.