Church Of St Columba

SE 37 NE TOPCLIFFE CHURCH STREET (west side)

5/35 Church of St Columba

20.6.66 GV II *

Church. C13 and C14, partly rebuilt in 1855 by G T Andrews. Ashlar with graduated Westmorland slate roof. West tower, nave with south porch and chancel under continuous roof. North aisle with vestry. Decorated in style. West tower: 3 stages. Plinth, offset angle buttresses, bands between stages. South face: 2nd stage, clockface in moulded surround. Third stage: belfry opening of 2-lights with cusped tracery in pointed arch with hoodmould. Similar to other sides. Corbelled eaves. Embattled parapet with large corner pinnacles and smaller pinnacles to centre of each side. West window, similar to belfry openings, with more elaborate tracery, to first stage; quatrefoil in circular surround above. Nave: 3 bays, bays divided by offset angle buttresses. 2 windows of 3 lights with Decorated tracery in pointed arches with hoodmoulds. South porch, gabled with pointed-arched doorway with hoodmould, stone coping. Inner board door. North aisle similar, with 3-light pointed windows and similar to west elevation. Chancel: 2 bays, bays divided by offset angle buttresses; left window of 2 lights, with cusped tracery in pointed arch with hoodmould, right bay has similar of 3 lights. East window: early C13, of 4-lights, cusped Decorated tracery with four petal motifs in head, set in pointed arch with hoodmould. East window to north aisle of 3-lights with Decorated tracery in pointed arch with hoodmould. Gabled north vestry. Stone copings and gable cross to east end. Interior: 3 bay C19 north arcade and single similar arch to north of chancel; octagonal piers, moulded capitals, double chamfered pointed arches with hoodmoulds. Chancel arch similar but with round piers and leaf motif capitals. In chancel early C14 piscina and sedilia, 4 niches with cusped pointed-arched heads. South side of chancel has a window with glass by Burne-Jones 1857. South nave glass by Kempe 1893. Monuments: good brass to Thomas de Topcliffe 1362 and his wife 1391.

Listing NGR: SE3996576037