Church of St Edmund King and Martyr, Kellington

Last updated

St Edmunds' Church
Church of St Edmund King and Martyr, Kellington
St.Edmund's church - geograph.org.uk - 1612360.jpg
St Edmund's church
North Yorkshire UK location map (2023).svg
Red pog.svg
St Edmunds' Church
Location within North Yorkshire
53°42′53″N1°10′16″W / 53.7146°N 1.1712°W / 53.7146; -1.1712
OS grid reference SE547245
Location Kellington, North Yorkshire
CountryEngland
Denomination Church of England
Website Official website
History
StatusActive
Architecture
Architectural type Norman
Early English
Decorated
Specifications
Height54 feet (16 m) (tower)
Administration
Diocese Leeds
Archdeaconry Pontefract
Deanery Pontefract
Benefice Knottingley and Kellington with Whitley
Parish Kellington
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated11 December 1967
Reference no. 1148402

The Church of St Edmund King and Martyr, Kellington, is a grade I listed 12th century church in the village of Kellington, North Yorkshire, England. Excavations at the site have revealed the 14th century tomb related to the Knights Templar, and in the 1990s, the foundations of the church were underpinned because of possible subsidence effects from the nearby Kellingley Colliery.

Contents

Its separation from the village upon elevated land, makes it a local landmark and it has been commented upon throughout history. A stone with Medieval carvings upon it was found in the church and has given rise to a legend attached to it about a shepherd fighting a snake. The Kellington Serpent-Stone is one of the attractions of the church.

History

The church is located 0.25 miles (0.40 km) outside of the village to the west on elevated ground. Excavations detailed the possibility that the low hill that the church sits on had earlier religious significance, with the belief that a Saxon church once stood on the site. [1] The English antiquary, Roger Dodsworth, stated that the church was in "splendid isolation" from the village. Likewise, the local plan as created by Selby District Council states "St Edmund's Church, to the west of Kellington, dominates the skyline when viewed from the village and is a particularly fine Grade I listed building." [2]

The church was recorded in the late 12th century when the Knights Templar appointed John de Kellington as the rector. [3] At that time, the Knights Templar had possession of a great acreage of land in the immediate area. [4] The church is believed to have been in existence before 1177, as it had been granted to the Knights Templar by Henri de Lacy, who died in 1177 whilst on a Crusade. [5] A vicarage was first recorded in 1291, and a survey conducted in 1307 stated that "The templars also hold the church at Kelyngton[sic] for their own use...", though in 1308, Sir John Crepping, the sheriff of the area, seized the lands of the Templars, which included the church at Kellington. [6] It is known that many Templars were buried at Kellington, though some graves have been lost through restoration. [7]

In 1310, it was given to Sir Miles de Stapleton, who retained it for only three years before giving it up. [8] By 1342, St Edmund's was in the hands of the Knights Hospitaller. [9] [10] After the Hospitallers, ownership and advowson of the church passed to Trinity College in Cambridge. [11]

As the church has Norman origins, the main part of the church is in this style, though the tower was added later. Renovations and refurbishments over the years have also led to other architectural styles, most notably Early English and Decorated. [12]

In 1548, the Kellington Serpent-Stone was removed from a recess in the north wall of the chantry chapel. The stone, which is magnesian limestone, has an ornately carved sword down the middle with a human figure on the left and a "grotesque" figure on the right. [13] The stone was placed in the churchyard, but due to the effects of weather, it was returned to the church in the 1920s. [11] The best description of the stone before it was weathered was by Roger Dodsworth who visited in 1621. Dodsworth described the grotesque figure as a "flying serpent", and alluded the stone to a local story where a shepherd killed the serpent but died in the struggle. [14]

The vicar of Kellington in the late 1850s, Joseph Mann, helped raise money for a chapel-of-ease at nearby Whitley. This became All Saints' Parish Church, which was a daughter church of St Edmund's, and as such had no burial ground. [15] Both churches held joint worship with the local Methodist congregations in the 1960s and in the 2000s. [16]

Due to the risk of subsidence that might be caused by the proposed extension of the workings of the nearby Kellingley Colliery, underpinning of the church was deemed necessary. An archaeological excavation was undertaken from October 1990 to April 1991 to excavate the burials within the church and within the footprint of the proposed underpinning. The excavation was run by York University, under the direction of Richard Morris, Julie Dunk and Ian Lawton, with Warwick Rodwell recording the tower. [17] Part of the renovation of the church meant storing many of the disinterred skeletons in an ossuary that was built beneath the tower. [18] The underpinning venture was then undertaken. [19] British Coal spent £1 million in 1991, [note 1] making sure that the church would not collapse. The tower was dismantled and when the underpinning work was finished, was rebuilt exactly as it was before. [20] Further renovations were carried out in the 21st century. [21] The earlier renovations revealed that the original floor of the church was made up of limestone rubble, with mortar used in the spaces. [22]

Listed structures

Besides the church itself, which is grade I listed, [23] there are a further two structures within the churchyard that are listed with Historic England;

Additionally, the churchyard is registered with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. [27]

Notes

  1. ↑ This was the cost as listed in 1991

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knottingley</span> Town in the City of Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England

Knottingley is a town in the City of Wakefield in West Yorkshire, England on the River Aire and the old A1 road before it was bypassed as the A1(M). Historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, it has a population of 13,503, increasing to 13,710 for the City of Wakefield ward at the 2011 Census. It makes up the majority of the Knottingley ward represented on Wakefield Council.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of All Saints, Bingley</span> Anglican church in Bingley, West Yorkshire, England

Church of All Saints is the Anglican parish church in the town of Bingley, West Yorkshire, England. It is one of two Anglican churches in the town, the other being Holy Trinity. All Saints has existed since Norman times and it is set in the oldest part of the town, near to where the River Aire is crossed by Ireland Bridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kirkburn</span> Village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England

Kirkburn is a small village and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated about 3 miles (5 km) south-west of Driffield town centre and is on the A614 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitley, North Yorkshire</span> Village in North Yorkshire, England

Whitley is a village in North Yorkshire, England, close to the Aire and Calder Navigation and the M62 motorway. The population of the village at the 2001 census was recorded as being 574, which had risen to 1,021 by the time of the 2011 census. In 2015, North Yorkshire County Council estimated the population to have risen again to 1,110. It was historically part of the West Riding of Yorkshire until 1974. From 1974 to April 2023 it was in the Selby District of North Yorkshire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Temple Church, Bristol</span> Building in Bristol, England

Temple Church, also known as Holy Cross Church, is a ruined church in Redcliffe, Bristol, England. It is on the site of a previous, round church of the Knights Templar, which they built on land granted to them in the second quarter of the 12th century by Robert of Gloucester. In 1313 the Knights Hospitaller acquired the church, following the suppression of the Templars, only to lose it in 1540 at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. By the early 14th century, the church served as the parish church for the area known as Temple Fee. From around the same time, the rebuilding of the church on a rectangular plan started. This was completed by 1460, with the construction of a leaning west tower.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellington</span> Village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Kellington is a small village and civil parish in the Selby District of North Yorkshire, England, on the banks of the River Aire. Situated almost equidistant between the towns of Pontefract and Selby, the village dates back to at least the 11th century when it was listed in the Domesday Book. The semi-rural community grew in size with the advent of local mining as housing was built to accommodate the workers of nearby Kellingley Colliery.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellingley Colliery</span> Former coal mine in North Yorkshire, England (1965–2015)

Kellingley Colliery, known affectionately as the 'Big K', was a deep coal mine in North Yorkshire, England, 3.6 miles (5.8 km) east of Ferrybridge power station. It was owned and operated by UK Coal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Luke's Church, Lower Whitley</span> Church in Cheshire, England

St Luke's Church is in the village of Lower Whitley, in the civil parish of Whitley, Cheshire, England. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building. It is an active Anglican parish church in the diocese of Chester, the archdeaconry of Chester and the deanery of Great Budworth. It is one of three parish churches in the parish of Aston-by-Sutton, Little Leigh and Lower Whitley. The other two being St Peter, Aston-by-Sutton and St Michael and All Angels, Little Leigh. The three were previously individual parishes in a united benefice with St Mark, Antrobus.

Whitley Preceptory was a priory in North Yorkshire, England. The site of the priory is thought to have been located 0.62 miles (1 km) south west of the village of Whitley and was one of twelve run by the Knights Templar in Yorkshire alone. Whilst the exact location of the manor house is unknown, the presence of a moat at grid reference SE555205, is thought to indicate the possible location of the priory.

Temple Hirst Preceptory was a priory in North Yorkshire, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Mary's Church, Penwortham</span> Church in Lancashire, England

St Mary's Church is in Church Avenue, Penwortham, Lancashire, England. It is an active Anglican parish church in the deanery of Leyland, the archdeaconry of Blackburn, and the diocese of Blackburn. The church is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Peter, Williton</span> Church in Somerset, England

The Anglican Church of St Peter in Williton in the English county of Somerset is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade II* listed building.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Gregory, Bedale</span> Anglican church in North Yorkshire, England

The Church of St Gregory, Bedale is the parish church for the town of Bedale in North Yorkshire, England. It is the main church of the benefice of Bedale and Leeming and Thornton Watlass. A stone church in Bedale was mentioned in the Domesday Book, but the present structure dates back to the latter part of the 12th century, with further restorations over the last 800 years. The grade I listed building has many notable features including a medieval image of a left handed St George fighting a dragon and the tower, set to the western side, which was built with a portcullis in a defensive capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Mary the Virgin, Masham</span> Church in North Yorkshire, England

The Church of St Mary the Virgin, Masham, is the parish church in the town of Masham, North Yorkshire, England. The church stands on the site of an Anglo-Saxon place of worship with some the original Saxon stones incorporated into the current church. Archaeology has determined that the site has been used as a place of Christian worship for over 1,400 years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Patrick, Patrick Brompton</span> Anglican church in North Yorkshire, England

The Church of St Patrick, is the parish church for the village and parish of Patrick Brompton in North Yorkshire, England. The church is one of six in the Benefice of Lower Wensleydale and the oldest parts of the building date back to the 11th century. It is 6 miles (9.7 km) south east of Richmond and 4 miles (6 km) north of Bedale situated on the A684 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Church of St Oswald, Filey</span> Anglican church in Filey, North Yorkshire, England

The Church of St Oswald, Filey, is a parish church in the North Yorkshire town of Filey, England. The church dates from the 12th and 13th centuries, with some embattlements added in the 15th century. The building is now grade I listed and was described by Pevsner as "easily the finest church in the north-east corner of the East Riding".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St Germain's Churchyard</span> Cemetery in Yorkshire, England

St Germain's Churchyard is a large cemetery overlooking the North Sea at Marske-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire, England. Its church tower is a grade II listed structure at the midpoint to the yard and a landmark for sailors out on the sea. It is a remnant of a demolished church, services at St Germain's were replaced in 1876 by St Mark's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Knottingley Town Hall</span> Municipal building in Knottingley, West Yorkshire, England

Knottingley Town Hall is a municipal building in Weeland Road, Knottingley, West Yorkshire, England. The structure, which served as the headquarters of Knottingley Urban District Council, now operates as a community centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marton cum Grafton</span> Civil parish in North Yorkshire, England

Marton cum Grafton is a civil parish in the Borough of Harrogate of North Yorkshire, England. The parish has only two settlements, and has a magnesian limestone and sandstone geography, which has been used for quarrying. The landform is broadly flat, though there are some small hills with the Marton and Grafton being separated by 98 feet (30 m) despite being only 0.5 miles (0.8 km) apart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Church of St Andrew, Upleatham</span> Anglican church in Redcar and Cleveland, England

The Old Church of St Andrew is a redundant grade II* listed Anglican church in the village of Upleatham, Redcar and Cleveland, England. Parts of the church date back to the 12th century, and it was replaced as a working church by the newer Church of St Andrew, which is located closer to the village, the old church being outside of Upleatham. Although no longer used for services, the church is noted as being one of the smallest in England.

References

  1. ↑ McCudden, Simon (September 2013). "The Proposed Knottingley Power Plant Order Knottingley Power Project" (PDF). infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk. Parsons Brinckerhoff. p. 7. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  2. ↑ "Yorkshire Post: Ecotown campaigners plan 'human ring' protes" . infoweb.newsbank.com. 22 May 2008. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  3. ↑ "Kellington with Whitley Parish". kellingtonwithwhitley.org.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  4. ↑ Lee, John S. (5 August 2015). "Weedley not Whitley: Repositioning a Preceptory of the Knights Templar in Yorkshire". Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. 87 (1): 101–123. doi:10.1179/0084427615Z.00000000051. S2CID   128859718.
  5. ↑ Webb, Malcolm (2006). "Unearthing the Story of the Church of St Edmund King & Martyr Kellington, West Yorkshire" (PDF). kellingtonwithwhitley.org.uk. p. 14. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  6. ↑ "Houses of Knights Templar | British History Online". www.british-history.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  7. ↑ Speight, Harry (1891). Through Airedale from Goole to Malham. Leeds: Walker & Laycock. p. 24. OCLC   05824116.
  8. ↑ Chetwynd-Stapylton, H E (1889). "The Templars at Templehurst[sic]". Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. 10. Leeds: Yorkshire Archaeological Society: 441. OCLC   951083711.
  9. ↑ Worsfold, John Napper (1894). History of Haddlesey: its past and present. With notices of many neighbouring parishes and townships. London: E Stock. p. 62. OCLC   1046518949.
  10. ↑ Urban, Sylvanus (March 1825). "Derivations of the Names of Places". The Gentleman's Magazine. 137. London: J Nicholls: 214. OCLC   17336722.
  11. 1 2 Hudson 1938, p. 314.
  12. ↑ Mytum, H (1993). "Kellington Church". Current Archaeology. 12 (133). London: Selkirk: 15–17. OCLC   605187778.
  13. ↑ Gittos, Brian; Gittos, Moira (2016). Interpreting medieval effigies : the evidence from Yorkshire to 1400. Oxford: Oxbow Books. p. 98. ISBN   9781789251289.
  14. ↑ Hudson 1938, p. 315.
  15. ↑ "Kellington with Whitley". www.kellingtonwithwhitley.org.uk. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  16. ↑ Taylor, Kate (2012). Wakefield Diocese : celebrating 125 years. Norwich: Canterbury Press. p. 128. ISBN   978-1-84825-253-0.
  17. ↑ https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/12772/4/combined_thesis_final.pdf
  18. ↑ Giesen, Myra, ed. (2013). Curating human remains : caring for the dead in the United Kingdom. Woodbridge: Boydell Press. p. 110. ISBN   978-1-84383-806-7.
  19. ↑ "St Edmund, Church Lane | Historic England". historicengland.org.uk. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  20. ↑ Davenport, Peter (23 January 1991). "British coal saving church" . infoweb.newsbank.com. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  21. ↑ "Kellington church repairs reach milestone". York Press. 7 September 2011. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  22. ↑ Fawcett, Jane (2001). Historic floors : their history and conservation. Oxford: Butterworth Heniemann. p. 43. ISBN   0-7506-2765-4.
  23. ↑ Historic England. "Church of St Edmund (Grade I) (1148402)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  24. ↑ Historic England. "Gate Piers to St Edmund's Churchyard (Grade II) (1148403)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  25. ↑ Pevsner, Nikolaus (2001). Yorkshire : the West Riding (2 ed.). London: Penguin Books. p. 105. ISBN   0-14-071017-5.
  26. ↑ Historic England. "Churchyard Cross, St Edmund's Church (Grade II) (1295742)". National Heritage List for England . Retrieved 11 January 2020.
  27. ↑ "KELLINGTON (ST. EDMUND) CHURCHYARD". www.cwgc.org. Retrieved 11 January 2020.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.