Church Of St Mary

Church of St Mary, East Barkwith

A parish church with major phases of construction spanning from the early 12th century through the 19th century. The building is constructed of coursed ironstone rubble, coursed limestone rubble, and greenstone rubble blocks with limestone ashlar dressings. The roofs are of slate with decorative ridge tiles and stone coped gables topped with cross finials.

The plan comprises a west tower, nave with north and south aisles, south porch, chancel with north vestry, and south organ chamber. A plinth runs around the entire perimeter of the church.

The mid-15th century west tower is of three stages in ironstone, with two lower moulded string courses and diagonal three-stage buttresses. The pointed west window has a bowtell moulded surround with three cusped, ogee-headed lights and vertical tracery with some crenellated decoration, topped by a hood mould and head label stops. Two moulded string courses sit above. Seventeenth-century bell openings on all four sides each comprise a pair of rectangular lights divided by filleted mullions. The tower features moulded eaves with corner gargoyles, broad battlements, and small ornate pinnacles at the corners.

The north aisle dates from 1868–69. Its west window is rectangular with a single ogee-cusped light, two cusped oculi, and a rectangular window, with a two-stage diagonal buttress. Three further windows on the north side each have two or three cusped ogee-headed lights with cusped oculi and rectangular hood moulds, with a parapet above and a two-stage buttress to the east.

The north vestry of 1868–69 has a pointed north doorway with chamfered surround and plank door, and a two-light rectangular east window with ogee-cusped heads and rectangular hood mould.

The chancel dates from 1846. Its north side contains a single narrow rectangular window with a cusped pointed head and rectangular hood mould. The pointed east window has three cusped and pointed lights with vertical tracery and hood mould. The south side has a rectangular two-light window with cusped pointed heads and hood mould. A gabled organ chamber of 1868 adjoins to the west, with a string course and diagonal two-stage buttresses; its south window is rectangular with two pointed cusped lights and rectangular hood mould.

The south side of the nave was rebuilt in 1868 with two rectangular windows—one of two lights to the right and one of three lights to the left—all with ogee-cusped lights, cusped oculi, and rectangular hood moulds.

The south porch is of mid-15th century date with a gabled roof. Small windows in its east and west sides each comprise two small pointed cusped lights cut from single stones. The pointed south doorway has a moulded head and jambs in one, hood mould, and head label stops to the east, the latter being 19th-century work. Above the doorway is a niche with an ornate canopy containing a Virgin and Child with angel corbel. The porch interior features flanking wooden settles. A mid-15th century pointed doorway within the porch has a moulded head and jambs in one and a plank door.

To the west of the porch, the south side of the nave features a rectangular window of two cusped ogee-headed lights with four cusped oculi above and a rectangular hood mould. The west end of the south aisle has a 19th-century lancet with chamfered surround.

Internally, a tall mid-15th century tower arch has a pointed head with richly moulded jambs in one. The north arcade of 1868–69 comprises four bays with double chamfered pointed heads, polygonal piers, a semi-circular western respond, and a polygonal eastern respond. The south arcade of mid-13th century date is similarly detailed, with four bays of double chamfered pointed heads, polygonal piers, semi-circular western respond, and polygonal eastern respond.

A vestry doorway in the east end of the north aisle has a pointed head with chamfered surround in one and a plank door. An organ chamber archway in the east end of the south aisle has a 19th-century pointed chamfered head and rectangular jambs.

The mid-15th century chancel arch has a pointed head with richly moulded head and jambs in one. The chancel contains a north vestry doorway with pointed head and chamfered surround in one and a plank door, and an organ arch to the south with a pointed head and narrow chamfered surround in one. A 19th-century piscina to the east has cusped ogee openings to the west and north divided by a plain column.

The 19th-century roofs feature ornate ashlar corbels. A broad plaster band runs around the chancel with vineleaf and grape decoration. The chancel contains a 19th-century reredos of three painted wooden panels with censing angels flanking a crucifix, a 19th-century altar rail, lecterns, and 20th-century pews. A metal gilt pulpit by Christopher Turnor features panels decorated with vine leaves and grapes.

A mid-15th century octagonal font stands on a spurred plinth with tall octagonal base and a bowl decorated with heads, fleurons, and shields. Fragments of medieval glass are incorporated into a 19th-century window to the left of the altar.