Church Of St Andrew

Church of St Andrew

This parish church stands at Grinton and dates primarily from the 12th to 16th centuries, with a comprehensive restoration undertaken in 1896 by Searle Hicks of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The building is constructed of rubble with flat lead roofs.

The church comprises a chancel and nave, both with continuous lower aisles running the length of the building. A chantry chapel occupies the angle between the chancel and north aisle, a south porch provides entrance from the south, and a substantial west tower rises above the western end.

The chancel contains two bays. Its 15th-century Perpendicular east window has five lights with five-cusped tracery, as does a 15th-century south window with two lights. A 16th-century Perpendicular north window of three lights features semi-circular heads without tracery. The chancel aisles are lit by five-light east windows with hollow-chamfered mullions and semi-circular heads, without tracery, in both north and south positions. A 16th-century three-light north window and a three-light south window with large trefoil cusping light the south chancel aisle. A doorway with a four-centred head and roll on chamfer provides access.

The nave is divided into four bays by stepped buttresses. On the south side are two 16th-century two-light windows and a south doorway featuring continuous roll mouldings with heads on label stops. The south porch is topped with an apex cross and furnished with stone benches. A three-light lancet window occupies the south-west position. Sixteenth-century clerestory windows run along with battlemented parapets, and a sundial dated 1833 is carved on the south face. To the north, the aisle retains 15th and 16th-century Perpendicular three-light windows. The north aisle includes a west door and a 16th-century five-light window. Above rises a three-storey embattled tower with two stair vents on its south side and a benchmark. The tower carries a clock and features a cross window on all four faces of the belfry stage.

The interior displays double-chamfered arcades supported on octagonal piers, with flat Perpendicular roofs throughout.

In the chancel, a fragment of a sedile with ovolo mould survives. A hatchment commemorates Dorothy Darcy, died 1698. A floor slab marks the burial of Thomas Langstaffe, died 1702. A doorway with chamfered surround and four-centred head leads to the chantry chapel, which is separated from the north chancel aisle by late medieval woodwork. The chapel itself has two light vents and a rubble barrel-vaulted roof.

The north chancel aisle formerly served as the chapel of the Swale family of Swale Hall. It retains a late medieval screen with single-light divisions featuring round-headed lights with five cusps and cusping. A royal coat of arms dated 1693 is displayed, and the east window contains stained glass bearing the coat of arms of the Swale family.

The south chancel aisle served the Blackburn family of Blackburn Hall. A medieval screen with single-light divisions survives, decorated with ogee tracery featuring three cusps and cresting. A floor slab records Elizabeth Blackburn, died 1687/8. Fragments of 15th-century stained glass in the east window are said to represent St George and include text in black letters reading "Maria Bredlingtone", which appears to reference a connection with Bridlington Priory. A "leper squint" is located at the junction of the chancel and nave.

The chancel arch retains a 12th-century respond to the north, with steps and a door to the rood screen. A 14th-century arch sits above. In the nave stands a late Jacobean pulpit with a sounding board dated 1718. Floor slabs commemorate Elizabeth Hutchinson, died 1697/8, and William Mortimer, died 1707. A wall memorial records Anthony Close, died 1786. A circular Norman font is decorated with chevron design and topped by a fine Perpendicular cover.

The tower arch is Early English in style with missing shafts, and a 12th-century window rises above it. The north aisle contains a wall monument to Thomas Peacock, died 1710, and his family, executed by Davies of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Floor slabs mark the burials of Mary Birkbeck, died 1812, Adam Barker, died 1701, and Ann Barker, died 1692. In the south aisle, a Decorated piscina with broken basin survives, alongside a Jacobean screen, possibly part of a squire's pew. A wooden wall memorial commemorates Edward Elliott, died 1795. Floor slabs record Margaret Charder, died 1728, and Rev. John Taylor, with no death date recorded.