| Summary : Plan of nave of circa 1050, 13th century arcade and north wall, raised in the 15th century, late 13th century north chapel, now vestry. The rest is 19th century, the porch 1800, West tower 1827 and the chancel was rebuilt in 1881. The church was restored 1907-1909 by Temple Moore. Within the church are several Anglian cross fragments and grave slabs dating from the early 8th century to the 11th century. The church may have been a minster. The ruined minster of St Gregory was bought by Orm, son of Gamel, who rebuilt it in the time of Edward and Tostig (1055-65). However, there was an earlier monastery attested to by the inscribed stones, and tradition attributed it to St Cedd (died 664). The foundations of early buildings are said to have been found on the South side of the church. There are 7 fragments of cross shafts covering the late 9th and 10th centuries. A grave cover is of the late 8th or early 9th centuries. There is also the finest example of a Saxon sundial in England. It has an inscription relating the purchase of the ruined minster by Orm and his rebuilding of the church. |
More information : SE 67708577 Church (NAT) (1)
Church of St Gregory, Kirkdale consists of a mid 11th century
nave (see plan) with 13th century north aisle and remainder
mainly 19th century. An Anglo Saxon sundial (inscribed about
1055-65) is built over the south door and establishes the
existence of an earlier church. Foundations of old buildings are
reported south of the church together with an adjoining series of
mounds, traditionally the remains of a monastery or village.
Early Medieval carved stones built into the church include two early
9th century crosses; an early 10th century shaft/ slab
fragment and a worn piece of late 9th century interlacing. Two
grave slabs, early 8th century and 11th century two crossheads
and a 10th-11th century shaft fragment are kept inside the church.
(2-4)
The church (still in normal use) is as described and in good
condition. Of the alleged "foundations and adjoining series of
mounds" in the area to the south of the church (now cleared and
containing modern graves) nothing could be found. (5)
2/95 St. Gregory's Minster (formerly listed
as Church of St Gregory)
14/7/55
- I
Church. Nave c.1050; C13 arcade and north wall, raised in C15:
late C13 north chapel, now vestry; porch 1800; tower 1827;
chancel rebuilt 1881. Restored 1907 - 1909 by Temple Moore.
Limestone rubble nave and porch: dressed limestone tower and
with north aisle and chapel, south porch, chancel and west tower and
timber gabled porch. Reset C15 pointed doorway under corbelled
dripmoulded in chancel south wall, with single lancet to left.
C13 3-light window with cusped heads recessed in squared
surround to right of porch. Square - section west tower has
louvred bell openings below shallow, hipped roof. In the wall to
the left of tower is a reset Saxon cross shaft, and Saxon quoins
which survive the later rebuilding of the north wall. The
rebuilt upper courses of the nave north wall contain a 2-light
window with cusped heads. At the east end of the chancel are three
lancets with an oculus above. Interior; Saxon west doorway,
now tower arch: narrow and round - arched, with quoined jambs and
shafts to west with rough block capitals (Pevsner). Aisle arcade
has octagonal columns, rolute and waterleaf capitals, and double
- chamfered pointed arches. Stone benches survive along the north
and south walls, and within the porch. Other fittings include a
C13 octagonal font, and alter rails donated in 1635. Two Saxon
grave slabs are preserved between the arcade columns, also the
remains of a C14 carved stone Virgin and Child. There are two
bells, one c. 1300, the other from 1400-1450. Over the doorway
within the porch a Saxon sundial has survived almost intact. The
long stone slab in divided into three sections, the centre one
containing the sundial but without gnomon, the two outer
containing an inscription, the translation of which reads: "Orm
Camal's son bought St. Gregory's Minster when it was all broken
down and fallen and he let it be made anew from the ground to
Christ and St. Gregory, in Edward's days, the king, and in
Tosti's days, the Earl. This is day's Sun marker at every tide.
And Haworth me wrought and brane, priests." Reference: Sir N
Pevsner, The Buildings of England: Yorkshire-The North Riding.
Penguin, 1966; Page 216. (6)
Full description of the ten Anglian fragments most of which are built into the fabric of the church. There are six fragments of cross-shafts and heads of late 9th and 10th century date, two grave covers of late 8th-early 9th century dates, and part of a late 9th-early 10th century hogback stone.
There is also a sundial with three inscriptions. Uniquely in England, these name the carver, the patron saint, the priest, the landholder, the king and the earl. In translation it reads as:
`Orm the son of Gamal bought St Gegory's Minster when it was utterly ruined and collapsed and he had it rebuilt from the foundations (in honour of) Christ and St Gregory in the days of King Edward and earl Tosti'. (This dates it to 1055-65).
`And Haward made me and Brand the priest'.
This is the mark of the sun for each (canonical) hour.'
The sundial is inside the porch above the south doorway of the nave. (7) |