Church Of St Cuthbert And St Oswald

The Church of St Cuthbert and St Oswald was built in 1917 by Connon and Chorley for Jane, Baroness Furness, as a memorial to her husband, Christopher, the first Baron Furness. The church is constructed of gritstone with a stone slate roof. It comprises a three-bay nave with narrow north and south aisles integrated into its design, a large three-stage west tower with a porch on the south side and a stair turret, and a two-bay chancel with a vestry to the south and an organ bay to the north. The architectural style is Perpendicular. A double board south door sits under a deeply-chamfered arch, with wide strap hinges. The belfry windows have curvilinear tracery, while the nave windows feature elaborate Perpendicular tracery and shallow arches (three-light). The east window is five-light. Wide buttresses are present, along with irregular indented parapets to the tower, nave, and chancel. Projecting bands mark floor levels and extend over the belfry windows of the tower.

Inside, the aisles are low tunnels located beneath the buttress walls and link the piers to the outer walls. Marble corner columns support a wooden vaulted ceiling at the west end, beneath the tower. The nave and chancel are roofed with large timbers. A wide, double-chamfered chancel arch is visible. The font, pulpit, and low screen are made of white veined marble. Finely carved pew-ends display varied traceried panels. The walls of the west end hold memorials dedicated to the Furness family of Grantley Hall.

The earlier church stood to the northwest, within the graveyard. It was built or restored around 1500 by Marmaduke Huby, Abbot of Fountains Abbey, and again in the 18th century. Sections of the stone fabric of the earlier church, dating to around 1500, are incorporated into the west wall of the present tower, including two Latin inscriptions, a three-light west window, and a niche with a crocketed canopy. The roofing system for the aisles was likely inspired by the church at Fountains Abbey. The architects Connon and Chorley also designed St Aidan's Church in Hellifield.