Church Of All Saints

The Church of All Saints, located in Skelton, Brotton, was built between 1884 and 1885, designed by R.J. Johnston of Newcastle. It is constructed of dressed sandstone with ashlar dressings, featuring plain clay tiled roofs. The church is executed in the Decorated style, characterized by reticulated, flowing, and geometric tracery. The building combines a continuous nave and chancel with aisles extended to the first bay of the chancel. Additional features include north-east and south-east vestries, a south-west tower positioned over a porch, and an intermediate porch linking the tower to the nave.

The four-stage tower has angle buttresses with offsets, a vice at the south-east angle, and string courses between the stages. The south doorway is composed of three moulded orders, incorporating ornamental iron gates, and is surmounted by an ornamented panel decorated with shields, bosses, and crocketed pinnacles. Clock faces are visible on the third stage. Bands of blank shields are positioned below paired bell openings, which are separated by lesenes rising from angel corbels. Gargoyles adorn the head of the lesenes and the angles of the tower, all beneath a pierced embattled parapet. The 5-bay nave exhibits a south doorway and four windows along the north aisle. The two-bay chancel includes a square window set high in the easternmost bay. The south aisle features buttresses capped with crocketed pinnacles between bays, along with hoodmoulds over the windows. A moulded eaves cornice with carved bosses extends across the south wall of the chancel, concluding with a straight parapet. An ornamental stack is situated at the south-west angle of the chancel. A moulded plinth runs along the tower, the south aisle, and the south-east vestry.

Inside, the tower porch has a timber fan-vaulted ceiling decorated with carved bosses. The 5-bay nave arcades are characterized by octagonal piers, responds, and capitals, supporting arches of two moulded orders. Similar arches define the chancel aisles. The nave contains pine pews with linenfold panels at the ends, while the lower portion of the walls is adorned with wall panelling. Hollow-moulded timber wall-plates feature bosses and brattishing, and a barrel roof is ornamented with carved bosses. Good iron gates are present at doorways within the chancel walls. A three-bay sedilia and credence niche is distinguished by traceried heads beneath a moulded cornice bearing shields, bosses, and crenellations. The sanctuary floor is composed of a marble mosaic by Burke & Co. (London). The church holds significant stained glass; the east window dates to 1891 and was created by Shrigley & Hunt (Lancaster), the west window to 1921 by J.W. Bewsey, the south aisle windows to 1898 by Burlison & Grylls (London), and one from 1970 by Paul Quail. A carved oak octagonal pulpit rests on a stone stem. The octagonal stone font, dating to 1859, has an enriched bowl set on two steps. An early 13th-century bell is located at the west end of the nave, and a fragment of a 11th-century sundial bearing a runic inscription, is housed in the porch. Both items originated from the Old Church of All Saints.