Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a parish church primarily of the 13th and 14th centuries, with a chancel arch dating around 1180, a tower constructed around 1490, and subsequent additions and alterations. It comprises a nave, chancel, west tower embraced by aisles, a south porch, and a vestry. The building is constructed of rubble with some ashlar, and has stone slate roofs. The chancel features late 15th-century windows with depressed arched heads. The east window is of five lights; the side windows of the chancel and the east windows of the aisles are similar and of three lights. Most other windows are flat-headed and of two lights, largely dating from the 19th-century restoration by W. H. Crossland in 1856, although the west window of the tower has three lights with simple tracery. The tower is of three stages with diagonal buttresses and an embattled parapet, with two-light belfry windows. A south porch was added in 1696, featuring a round arch and a gable topped by a reset sundial of 1648. 19th-century gates lead to the porch. A weathered sanctus bellcote sits atop the nave gable. The chancel has angle buttresses with goblets and gargoyles, and the angle buttresses at the east end of the aisles feature a carved "Savile Owl."

Inside, the chancel arch is likely from around 1180, though altered to a steeper angle. The nave arcade consists of four bays with octagonal piers and a collar-rafter roof. The chancel has two bays and a 15th-century slightly cambered panelled ceiling with moulded ribs. The tower bay features semi-octagonal engaged piers with an arch of three chamfers. The chancel aisles were originally built as chantry chapels dedicated to St Nicholas and St John. Furnishings include a high-quality 15th-century east window depicting the life of the Virgin, restored and slightly rearranged by William Wailes of Newcastle around 1850; he also designed the west window in 1866. Parclose screens, dating from the 16th or early 17th century, are of simple design with tracery at the heads. A rood screen, designed by Fellowes Prynne around 1920, is in a florid German Gothic style. A plain octagonal font is believed to be 17th century. Four miserere seats are loose within the church. Wall monuments include those to William Horton of Howroyd and Mary Horton, dating around 1750, featuring a good portrait medallion, others to the Thornhills of Fixby, dating from 1669 to 1758, and a monument to Northend Nicholas, dated 1818, by Walsh and Dunbar of Leeds.