Church of Saint Chad, Sproxton
Low Street, Sproxton, York, North Yorkshire, YO62 5EE
This Grade II listed building was once a barn on a nearby farm before being moved here, stone by stone in 1879.
It is a restored Elizabethan building which originally stood at Newton Grange, one and a half miles distant. Newton Grange was owned by Rievaulx Abbey in medieval times and its lands were farmed by the monks. Such monastic outposts sometimes had small chapels and the origins of this building may lie in that connection to Rievaulx.
The church we know today would originally have been designed as a chapel for family use, has had various owners and indeed spent time abandoned and in ruin, before Rev. Gray, Vicar of Helmsley, persuaded the Earl of Feversham to help move the building to the nearby hamlet of Sproxton to serve the local community. The architects supervised the removal by local farmers of the fabric, stone window frames, doorway and black and white floor, and tried to retain the atmosphere of a sixteenth century church. What is visible inside is more evidently Temple Moore’s work, executed by local craftsmen: the woodwork, oak roof, panels and so forth were carved and made by a Mr Worthy of Pockley and Mr George Waines of Helmsley. The balustrade across the gallery was constructed later in 1903 by Mr W. Worthy of Helmsley, who also made the fine oaken doors. The total cost of re-establishing the church was £1,100. The figures on the Rood screen were carved in Oberammergau, Germany and the reredos is fine plasterwork after a design by Michelangelo.
Here Ros Field is organising a display of local photographs of family and village life over the years by the villagers of Sproxton and having a floral display.
Timings & Tours
- Friday 13 September:
- 0900-1700
- Saturday 14 September:
- 0900-1700
- Sunday 15 September:
- 0900-1700
Location & directions
Low Street, Sproxton, York, North Yorkshire, YO62 5EE
- Directions:
- Saint Chad's is just off the A170 shortly after the turn onto the B1257 to Hovingham and Malton, opposite the Nelson Gates built in 1806 as a monument to Admiral Nelson one year after his death. There is a small parking area near the church and further down the village by the village hall, which looks like a 1940s Nissen Hut.
- Contact on day:
- Kate Senior, PCC Secretary
- Telephone number:
- +447936539664
Booking information
- Pre-booking requirement:
- Pre-booking not required
Accessibility details
There are steps from the road up to the church entrance. Parking near the church is limited.
Additional information
Sproxton is a small village located in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the edge of the Howardian Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The village is surrounded by beautiful countryside, making it an ideal location for those who enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, and horse riding. As well as Saint Chad's Church the the village is also home to a number of historic buildings. Saint Chad's is on the Saint Aelred's Pilgrim Trail (https://www.saintaelredspilgrimtrail.com) and on the Temple Moore Trail (http://templemooretrail.co.uk).
