Church Of St Giles

The Church of St Giles is a medieval church located in Risby, featuring a nave, chancel, west tower, south porch, and vestry. The building has flint walls with limestone dressings and a plain tiled roof. The round tower includes three mid-height openings with semicircular lintels and two tiers of narrow flint openings at the upper level.

Early 14th century alterations include the construction of a new chancel, a north chapel (demolished in 1843), and the addition of north and south nave and chancel doors, as well as 2-light windows for the nave and chancel. The east chancel has a 3-light window with net tracery, and there is a small west window in the tower. The north nave features a 13th century lancet window and a 15th century 3-light window. The vestry was added in 1843, while the south porch, dating from around 1435, has angle-buttresses and an arched opening with attached shafts, topped with a coupled rafter roof.

Inside, the nave roof is ceiled with seven cants, likely from the early 14th century. The 19th century south doors lead to a 12th century tower arch with a roll-moulded head, shafted jambs, and a chequered abacus, along with a door/sanctus bell opening above. The north nave door is from the 14th century, and the chancel arch, which dates to the 13th century, incorporates reused 12th century shafted jambs and horseshoe patterned voussoirs on the rear arch.

An unusual 15th century screen with coloring is present, flanked by colored niches with crocketed heads, and there is a door and steps leading to the road loft. The mid-19th century chancel roof is scissor-braced. Canopied niches flank the east window, with a 14th century piscina and sedilla on the south wall. Wall decorations from the late 13th century can be found on the north nave wall, along with 14th century figures above the north nave door.

The church features 15th century poppy head and buttressed benches with brattishing, while other areas have pews from 1842. A mid-17th century pulpit and holy table with a cross by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin are also present. There is a 14th century iron banded chest and a panel with the painted arms of George III. The chancel was refitted in 1863 and 1881, showcasing a fine oak arcaded reredos with vine decoration, along with a decorated altar table and good poppy head choir stalls. An organ dated 1868 is located within the church, and fragments of 13th, 14th, and 15th century glass can be found in the chancel windows, with glazing by Kempe from 1892 in the south nave window.