St Martin, Womersley

Frances Cassandra, Countess of Rosse, was a leading light in the English Church Union, and wanted ‘her’ church to be reordered in ‘the most advanced fashion’. She shipped in all the ornaments you can see, including the 17th century Spanish tile picture of the Last Supper on the south wall, almost hidden by the font cover, which she also commissioned.
Beside the font is the effigy of a member of the de Newmarch family, the local baron in the 14th century. The memorial is dated to 1330 and was carved locally, in local stone, but has had an interesting journey around the church, spending some time face down in the chancel, which is how it survived the Protestant Reformation.
The statues on the lower level of the rood screen nearly didn’t survive, though. In 1900 Womersley church was so well known that Thomas Kensit of the Protestant Truth Society journeyed from London, removed the statues and headed off to York to accuse the Archbishop of failing in his duty to prevent ‘Popery’ in the Church of England. Lady Rosse was told of the visit and set off in her coach. She apprehended the Kensitites before they could catch the train at Knottingley and the statues were returned to their rightful places.

Timings & Tours

Saturday 14 September:

10am - 4pm

Location & directions

St Martin, Park Lane, Womersley, Doncaster, North Yorkshire, DN6 9BH

Contact on day:

Mrs B. Greaves

Telephone number:

+441977621905

Booking information

Pre-booking requirement:

Pre-booking not required

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