Church of Saint Oswald is a Grade II* listed building in the North Yorkshire local planning authority area, England. First listed on 4 January 1955. A Medieval Church.

Church of Saint Oswald

WRENN ID
graven-granite-hemlock
Grade
II*
Local Planning Authority
North Yorkshire
Constituency
Thirsk and Malton MP: Kevin Hollinrake (Con)
Country
England
Date first listed
4 January 1955
Type
Church
Period
Medieval
Address
Church of Saint Oswald, Main Street, Oswaldkirk
OS grid reference
SE 620 789
Coordinates
54.20231, -1.04976
Source
Historic England listing

Also on this page: flood risk · radon risk · weather exposure · detailed attributes ↓

Description

The Church of Saint Oswald is a Grade II* listed building located on Main Street in Oswaldkirk. It dates back to the 12th century, with late 13th-century additions and significant restoration in 1886, which included substantial rebuilding of the chancel. The church is constructed from limestone, sandstone, and millstone grit rubble, with ashlar detailing and a Westmorland slate roof.

The structure features a 5½-bay nave that includes a western bellcote and a south porch, alongside a 3-bay chancel with a vestry to the north. The west front is marked by massive quoins, one of which is likely a reused Saxon cross shaft. Above the entrance, there is a single-light trefoil-headed window and a bellcote. The nave's south door is set in a Victorian porch beneath a rebuilt basket arch, which incorporates finely detailed beaded foliate capitals. The nave has 2-light trefoil-headed windows, with the eastern window being the only original one. On the north side, there is a doorway with two chamfered orders, the outer supported by shafts with stylised foliate capitals, along with a narrow round-headed chamfered window to the right and an original 2-light trefoil-headed window to the left.

In the chancel, the south side features a blocked square-headed priest's doorway, which has a 14th-century foliate cross grave slab fragment built into the jamb, flanked by two square-headed 2-light 19th-century windows. The north side contains the 19th-century vestry. The east end showcases a 3-light 19th-century window in the Decorated style, alongside a 2-light ogee-headed window for the vestry.

Inside, there is a 17th-century pulpit and panelling in the chancel, along with fragments of medieval window glass in the east bay of the nave windows. The west wall of the nave displays monuments, including a plaque for Mary Thompson, who died in 1747, featuring a medallion with a child held by a putto, and a white marble plaque for Edward Thompson, who died in 1742, surmounted by a medallion with a bust.

Local climate

Church of Saint Oswald receives an average of 780 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 61% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 74% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 39 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 76% of listed buildings. Of these, 22 follow at least 1 mm of rain in the preceding 48 hours. Average temperatures at this location have risen by 0.3°C per decade since 1991.

Averages for 1991–2020; temperature trend 1991–2025. Figures describe the wider area (a grid cell of roughly 10 km), not the individual site. Contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information 2026.

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  6. Stable Block to the Old Rectory Grade II 2.0 km
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  8. Church of the Holy Cross Grade I 2.1 km
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  10. Gateposts and railings to Gilling Castle Grade II 2.1 km