Parish Church, Whittingehame

The parish church at Whittingehame is a Gothic-style church dating back to 1722, originally built in a T-plan with a prominent tower. A Balfour Aisle was added to the north jamb, alongside a Buchan-Sydserff burial enclosure situated in the re-entrant angle to the east; the south wall and pointed windows were added in 1821. The church is constructed primarily of red rubble sandstone with coursed rubble used for the tower. The 1821 work features deeply chamfered reveals. The building is finished with an eaves cornice, a crenellated parapet and skews. Pointed arch openings are common, some featuring hoodmoulds.

The four-stage tower is advanced and dominates the west gable. It is accentuated by diagonal buttresses and cill courses, a doorway with double boarded doors and decorative hinges, and a Y-traceried window above. The two upper stages have louvred openings, some paired, and contain a bell dated 1610 made by Burgerhuys. The tower's diagonal buttresses rise to tall pinnacles surmounted by crocketed finials. The south elevation has four bays with Y-traceried windows, while the east elevation features an advanced, gabled clergy vestry added in 1821, with a doorway in the re-entrant angle to the south. A modern, piend-roofed brick boiler house is located to the north. The building is adorned with cross finials.

The north jamb extends two bays deep, containing a window to the right and a porch to the left of the west side. The square, crenellated porch has a mannered surround to its doorway and a short flight of steps. A blocked opening sits below a tall window in the jamb. The Balfour Aisle, advanced from the north gable of the north jamb, is two bays deep and constructed of red ashlar sandstone with base and cill courses, capped with a deep, wide crenellation. It features two blind Y-traceried windows with chamfered reveals to the west side, separated by a buttress. Diagonal buttresses mark the north end, leading to a hoodmoulded doorway and studded door. Tall pinnacles with crocketed finials complete the design.

The Buchan-Sydserff enclosure has an ashlar facade to the east, featuring a base course, entablature, dentilled cornice, and a balustrade with dies and urn finials. Ionic pilasters frame the doorway and the angles. The inscription "Buchan-Sydserff of Ruchlaw Family Burial Ground" is carved above the doorway. A coursed rubble blank wall runs to the north.

Internally, the T-plan arrangement is retained, with centre aisles. The floor is laid with flagstones, the walls and ceiling are whitewashed, and the seating is pitch pine, dating from 1876. A later pulpit and reredos feature cusp carving, with matching detailing on the lectern and Communion Table. Hoodmoulded doorways to the east and west ends have foliate label stops and boarded doors with decorative hinges. Wall memorials are present throughout. Diamond-pane glazing is used throughout, and the roof is covered in grey slates.

The surrounding graveyard is enclosed by rubble walls with semi-circular coping, which are partly broken down to the north. Square gatepiers mark the west entrance, accompanied by timber gates. The graveyard contains several fine early gravestones, including a selection of table-tombs and swan-necked 18th-century markers.