Church Of St Oswald

The Church of St Oswald is a church that dates back to the early 12th century, with additions made in the late 12th century, mid 13th century, and early 16th century. It underwent renovations in 1847 and 1878. The building is constructed from large blocks of red sandstone rubble and features green and Welsh slate roofs with coped gables and cross finials, along with an ashlar vestry chimney stack. The church consists of a nave and chancel with north and south gabled aisles, and it has a detached bell tower that is listed separately.

The north timber-framed gabled porch, dating from around 1523, has 19th-century stone infill and includes a reused early 17th-century stone inscribed with the name ROBERT LOWTHION above the entrance. Inside the porch, there is a seat that is part of a 16th-century pew with carved poppy head end boards. The porch is flanked by pointed lancet windows, with a 2-light mullioned Tudor window to the left. The north wall displays eight medieval grave slabs that are leaning against it.

The nave features a 19th-century west window, with steps leading down below it that have a 20th-century inscription. There is a blocked south entrance with hollow chamfer and roll mouldings, likely from the 13th century, flanked by Tudor mullioned windows, one of which is a 19th-century enlargement with three lights. The chancel has tall 3-light mullioned Tudor windows.

Inside, the church has three bay arcades with round arches and pointed west end arches supported by carved corbels. The chancel arch, dating from the 13th century, is built on the base of a 12th-century arch and has flanking niches for statues. The clerestory windows are Tudor 2-light. The panelled oak roof was added in 1847, and there is a medieval bowl font and a fragment of a medieval cross built into the west window of the north aisle. The church also features 20th-century side chapels in both aisles. The chancel contains heraldic stained glass representing various local families from 1846, as well as marble wall plaques commemorating members of the Fetherstonhaugh family and a fragment of a plaque from 1609 dedicated to Thomas Brougham. The open timber roof is also from the 19th century. The alterations made around 1523 were funded by Thomas Lord Dacre when he established the nearby College of Vicars.