Church Of St Mary Magdalen

The Church of St Mary Magdalene in Mendham Withersdale is a medieval parish church, originally part of the Withersdale parish and united with Mendham in 1885. The church comprises a nave, chancel, and a south porch. The construction utilizes flint rubble with traces of old plasterwork to the north and cement render to the south, while the east end is built of 18th-century red brick. The nave has a plaintiled roof, with concrete tiles on the south slope, and the chancel has black pantiles.

The nave likely dates to the 11th century or earlier, evidenced by the fieldstone quoins at the west end. A blocked 11th-12th century doorway remains in the north wall. The south doorway is from the 13th century, with an early plank door. Each nave wall features a small, probably 13th-century window, and a 2-light square-headed Perpendicular window, the north window being renewed. A timber-framed belfry with a 20th-century pyramidal plaintiled roof tops the west end. A 16th-century timber-framed porch retains its original mullioned windows visible internally.

The early 14th-century chancel has a lancet window and a Y-traceried window on each side, and a 3-light wooden east window with a double-chamfered head. Internally, there is no chancel arch. The nave's 3-bay side purlin roof is of vernacular form and probably dates to the 16th century. Arched braces support the belfry at the west end of the nave. The sanctuary features a cinquefoil-arched piscina. A 12th-century carved square font bowl sits on a modern base. The nave contains a set of eight early 17th-century benches with vertical moulding and three turned knobs on the ends, two 18th-century box pews, and one chancel bench with poppyhead ends and linenfold panelling. A complete 17th-century two-decker pulpit includes a backboard and tester. Matching turned altar rails are also from the 17th century. A medieval beam spans the east end of the chancel, passing through an external wall where it is pinned; it likely once supported a Lenten Veil. Framed copies of the Lord’s Prayer, Creed, and Commandments are displayed on the east chancel wall. The church also features an 18th-century west gallery and the arms of George III are displayed on the north nave wall.