We have been blessed with the inheritance of a beautiful church building in the heart of Strensall village. For help in locating it, please see how to find us.
Unlike in many other European countries, church buildings in Britain are not maintained by the state. The cost of maintaining St Mary's is met by the donations of the congregation and others in the Parish. Responsibility for looking after it lies with the churchwardens and the PCC.
As you will see below, the building has always been in a state of change and we hope that this will continue. A project (the Spearehead Project) is underway build a new community hall to be able to welcome a much wider range of activities and most of our fund-raising activities are directed towards this. The focus for this project has widened and will address the total building provision, including the existing church building. As with other organisations, the urgent need to tackle climate change will require us to address our carbon footprint, particularly as increasing use will require heating on more days.
Within the church itself, we have created more useful space by opening out and levelling the centre:
The result has been not only that there is a better view of the altar but also there is a space for musicians or other special requirements at services. The screen on the left enables us to include multi-media presentations. Another recent improvement was the building of a new access ramp to aid worshippers with movement disabilities and those with pushchairs.
A list of all of the vicars of Strensall can be found at Vicars. In addition to the photographs on this page we have links to other photographs on the web.
The village of Strensall existed before the Norman Conquest and was in the ownership of the church, but in the Doomsday Survey of 1086 there is no mention of a church building. This probably means that the earliest church building in Strensall was that described by the Rev John Hodgkinson, vicar of Strensall 1843 to 1884. He wrote "The parish church was originally a Norman structure the walls being rubble with door and window jambs and coigns of dressed Tadcaster or Bramham Moor stone. The interior fittings were rude and massive the seats open, of thick rough-hewn oak. The date of its erection is not known but from fragments still existing is supposed to have been between 1100 and 1150 AD. By 1166 Strensall had become one of the Prebends of St Peter’s, York. In 1314 the vicarage was ordained and remained in the gift of the Prebendary, who was also the Rector, until 1840 when the Arch-bishop of York became patron.
The first church building was in a state of decay when, in 1801, a Faculty was granted for extensive rebuilding on the original foundations. This work was carried out in 1803 to 1804. The Rev John Hodgkinson wrote… "A new chancel was built by the Rev John Ellis the then Lord of the Manor and a new nave and tower by the parishioners, all of brick (made for the purpose on Strensall Common End) but entirely wanting in architectural or ecclesiastical style, with walls only 14 inches thick. The interior was fitted with square pews of painted deal and of inconvenient form. There was an unsightly gallery at the west end. The windows were ordinary deal sashes, painted, having large squares. The tower was square at the bottom, and octagonal at the top and contained two bells."
The parishioners rated themselves for a number of years at two shillings in the pound to pay for the nave. A man living in the 1850s records that the gallery was used by the choir and an assortment of musicians, playing on bass fiddle, clarinet, small fiddles and flute. The box pews were overlooked by the parson mounted in a high pulpit and the sexton at a high reading desk.
By 1863 this building was in a very dilapidated condition and when autumn gales
caused much damage to the fabric it was decided to replace it with a completely
new one. The sum needed to build and furnish the present church building,
£1,523.12s.6d was raised almost entirely by subscription, thanks largely to the
tireless efforts of the vicar, John Hodgkinson, who has left detailed accounts.
Leonard Thompson Esq, of Sheriff Hutton Park, Lord of the Manor of Strensall,
paid for the chancel.
In May 1865 the foundation stone was laid by his wife, Lady Mary Thompson, and the building was consecrated by the Archbishop of York, William Thomson, on July 25 (the Festival of St James), 1866. The architects were Messrs J B and W Atkinson of York, and the church is built in the early decorated style to a design said to be that of Sir Gilbert Scott. The building consists of an aisle-less nave and a chancel with a south porch and a western tower which houses six bells.
One of the bells is a re-casting of a medieval bell removed from the previous bell tower and which bore the inscription ‘In Honore Sauntiiacobi – Walterus Me Fe-cit’ (in honour of St James -Walter made me). There is, indeed, evidence that the original church building was dedicated to St James. In 1428 indulgences were granted to penitents who visited the church of St James at Strensall and gave alms for its repair, and in 1451 the vicar of St James of Strensall was paid 6s 8d to pray for the soul of Thomas Vicars.
During the past century, the church has been maintained with loving care, sundry changes having been made to the interior, much of the work being carried out by local craftsmen. A new vestry was added on the north side in 1961and the building was re-floored in 1974.
The church is entered through a porch at the south door. On the outside of this porch are two carved heads, possibly those of Queen Victoria and the Arch-bishop of York, William Thomson. The nave is divided into four bays, the curved oak ribs supporting the roof resting upon stone corbels inserted in the walls. The roof is open-timbered.
At the back of the nave is a modern oak screen that separates the nave from the bottom of the bell tower, an area which was formerly used as a choir vestry. The screen was made by Thompson of Kilburn and a carved mouse can be seen to the left of the door.
Other examples of the Mouseman’s work to be seen are the fine lectern, pulpit and Paschal Candle Stand, all gifts to the church, as are many of the furnishings.
In the north-west corner is a beautiful modern font, designed by the late George Pace, given to the church in 1974. It is made of oak and stainless steel and on the cover a dove represents the Holy Spirit.
On the south wall are the Royal Arms, indicating the link between the Church of England and the State. On the north wall are the memorials to men of the village who gave their lives in two world wars. There used to be a small side altar here, as can be seen in the old photograph at the back of the church. The photograph also shows a pulpit in the north-east corner and organ pipes in the position of the present pulpit. The small doorway by which the vicar entered the pulpit from his vestry is now blocked.
A small piece of stone near the door is part of a window and is, almost certainly, from the first church building. It dates from about 1450 and is thought to have been inserted during a period of repair and improvement. It is interesting to note that it was at about this time that Indulgences were being granted to penitents who gave alms for the repair of the church building, and that in his will of 1451 Thomas Vicars left 20 shillings for the making of a doorway in the church of Strensall.
Behind the altar is a carved wooden reredos (panel) which came from Overton
church in 1965 and which has been extended to fit the present position. It
depicts the Crucifixion A large archway in the north wall used to contain the
organ console, the organist reaching his seat through a small gate in the back
of the choir stall.
The East window, above the altar, was given by Leonard Thompson in 1866 and was restored in 1973. It depicts the Epiphany, with the Wise Men bearing gifts for the infant king.
The following windows are in the South Sanctuary and Chancel:
