Church Of St Mary

The Church of St Mary is a Grade II* listed church located in Raskelf, dating back to the 12th century, with alterations and additions from the 14th and 15th centuries, and significant restoration in the 19th century, including the addition of a south aisle in 1879. The church is constructed of sandstone and features a weatherboarded west tower topped with shingles and a tiled pyramidal roof, which was restored most recently in 1954. The main church has a stone slate roof with stone coping and ridge.

The church consists of a 2-bay chancel with a north chapel, a 2-bay nave with a north aisle, and the 19th-century south aisle. The west tower is notable, and the east window is reticulated and partly rebuilt. Inside, there is a timber arcade between the chancel and north chapel, likely from the 15th century, featuring chamfered oak posts with arch braces; the central post has a 'capital' adorned with the badge of the Neville family. A 12th-century lancet window is located in the north wall of the chapel.

The nave's north arcade, dating from around 1100 to 1170, has unmoulded pointed arches, semi-circular responds, and a cylindrical pier with a square abacus and volute capital. The reticulated west window now backs onto the tower, while the nave windows are primarily 19th-century in a 15th-century style, except for a 14th-century 2-light window in the north aisle's west wall. The weatherboarded west tower stands on a modern rusticated stone plinth, making it unique in North Riding. Additionally, there are perpendicular bench ends with poppy heads to the west of the nave, a 17th-century balustraded screen in the North Chapel, and a 17th-century communion rail.