Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is an Anglican church located on Colton Road in Whitkirk, Leeds. It dates back to the 15th century, with the chancel being rebuilt in 1901 by G.F. Bodley. The church underwent restoration between 1855 and 1856 and was reordered around 1990. It is designed in the Perpendicular style.

The exterior features heavy nave and aisle parapets that project on large corbels. There are large three-light pointed windows in the north and south aisles, separated by buttresses, as well as small arched clerestory windows. The west tower has diagonal buttresses, an embattled parapet on corbels, and carved obelisk pinnacles. It includes a two-light belfry and a squat lead-clad spire. The south porch is gabled, vaulted, and has a stone roof.

Inside, the church has a short nave with arcades supported by short octagonal piers and double-chamfered arches. Notable monuments include a tomb chest for Sir Robert Scargill, who died in 1531-2, and his wife, who died in 1546-7, featuring mourners and recumbent alabaster effigies. Another monument is for Viscount Irwin of Temple Newsam, who died in 1688, and his wife, who died in 1746. This monument originally featured a tomb chest and fine effigies, with the Viscount depicted semi-reclining. The figures were regrouped against the south aisle wall around 1970. There is also a wall tablet commemorating John Smeaton, the engineer who died in 1792, which includes a relief of the Eddystone lighthouse by Robert Cooke. Smeaton was born in the parish and is buried under the chancel. Additional monuments include a work by Nollekens for Viscount Irwin from 1810 and a tablet by Henry Westmacott for Lord William Gordon from 1824.

The south chapel of the chancel was founded as a chantry in 1448-49.