Church of St Mary is a Grade I listed building in the North Yorkshire local planning authority area, England. First listed on 17 May 1960. A Medieval Church.

Church of St Mary

WRENN ID
tired-loft-elm
Grade
I
Local Planning Authority
North Yorkshire
Constituency
Wetherby and Easingwold MP: Sir Alec Shelbrooke (Con)
Country
England
Date first listed
17 May 1960
Type
Church
Period
Medieval
Address
Church of St Mary, Church Wynd, Alne
OS grid reference
SE 495 653
Coordinates
54.08157, -1.24469
Source
Historic England listing

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

Description

The Church of St Mary is a significant building dating from the 12th century, with alterations and additions from the 14th, 15th, and 18th centuries. It is constructed of sandstone, and while the roof is not visible, the church features a single-bay chancel with a 14th-century north chapel. The nave consists of three bays and includes a 15th-century north arcade. The west tower was remodeled in 1766, which included the addition of a brick bell stage.

Notable features of the chancel include a head corbel table from the 12th century, a deeply-splayed round arched lancet in the north wall, and a south door lintel carved with a twining serpent held by two eagles, possibly from the early 12th century. The east window of the chancel is in the Decorated style from the 14th century. The north chapel has a wide continuously chamfered round arch without capitals and a reticulated east window. The nave arcade is characterized by chamfered two-centred arches supported by octagonal piers with plain capitals. The 15th-century flat-arched windows feature trefoil-headed lights, with those on the south side containing glass by Kempe from 1883.

The round tower arch is elaborately designed with strong roll mouldings and semi-circular responds that alternate between pink and white bands. It has square abaci and simple volute capitals adorned with cable moulding. The south door of the nave likely dates to the mid-12th century and features two orders of shafts, with the outer one replaced. It has large square abaci with intricate decoration, and the arch's inner order displays medallions depicting the Agnus Dei, zodiac signs, and labours of the months, while the outer order of lunettes contains a bestiary. Although somewhat weathered, the door remains a fine example of craftsmanship.

Inside, there is an octagonal carved oak pulpit dated 1626 and a Norman font decorated with foliate scrolls. An early 14th-century alabaster effigy of a lady is located in the north chapel, along with a commemorative plaque to John Pearson dated 1695 in the tower.

Local climate

Church of St Mary receives an average of 750 mm of rain a year. This makes it drier than 69% of listed buildings in the UK. Its exposure to wind-driven rain is lower than that of 86% of listed buildings.

It experiences an average of 44 freeze-thaw cycles a year, more than 85% 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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