Parish Church Of St Mary

The parish church of St Mary is a building with origins in the 12th century, though significantly altered over the centuries. Fragments of reused 12th-century stonework are incorporated into the structure. The tower dates to the 14th century, while the nave was rebuilt around 1737 by Dingley Askham, whose presence is recorded by an inscription on a wall monument. A family vault, dating to around 1740, is situated south of the nave at a lower level. The chancel was rebuilt in 1871 by W.M. Fawcett, and the broach spire was reconstructed in 1902 and 1911.

The church is constructed of pebble and limestone rubble, partly plastered, with limestone and clunch dressings. The spire is of ashlar, with 18th-century red and white brick, and features lead and plain tile roofs. The north elevation contains a chancel with angle buttresses, a parapet gable, and two Y-tracery windows, flanking a central two-centred arched priest's door. The 18th-century nave is of red brick with originally stuccoed window jambs, featuring limestone imposts and key blocks. Large splayed buttresses support the tower, and the tower walls are stuccoed up to the belfry level, which contains a restored two-trefoiled-light belfry window, topped with a plain parapet. An octagonal spire is topped with roll-moulded angles and gabled spire-lights on its cardinal faces. Five rainwater heads date from approximately 1737.

Inside, the nave windows are flanked by elliptical-headed recesses with keystones, each displaying monuments to the Askham and Cotton families. Notable within these are a monument to Dame Alice Cotton (1657), by Joshua Marshall, and one to Robert Cotton (1697), inscribed with the signature 'G. Gibbons fecit' - the only known monument signed by Grinling Gibbons. A further monument commemorates Francis and Mary Askham (1748), and Dingley Askham (1781). A gallery with turned balusters dates to around 1737. The church is roofed with boarded 19th-century barrel roofs. A reset 14th-century piscina is found within the chancel, alongside some reset 14th-century glass. A bell is believed to have been cast by William Brazier of Norwich around 1376, considered one of the earliest in the country.